Cures for Bladder Retention

Bladder retention, a condition more commonly known as urinary retention, occurs in both men and women. The condition is characterized by a sudden need to urinate followed by a very small amount of urine being passed. In men, the condition is frequently linked to difficulties with the prostate, while in women, bladder retention is a result of urinary tract infections. However, there are multiple causes behind bladder retention. Ultimately, the exact cure will depend upon why the bladder retention is occurring. Treatments for obstructions are different from those for bladder retention that occurs as a secondary effect of diabetes.

Determine Causes

• Bladder retention often results from obstructions of the urinary system. Bladder stones, kidney stones, and cancer are natural obstructions. Swelling can result from an enlarged prostate, and bacteria and viruses can also cause bladder retention. Bladder diverticula, a condition in which pockets form in the bladder, also causes bladder retention, as the pockets are constantly filling with urine and emptying into the bladder as soon as the bladder is otherwise emptied.

  Less natural medical causes can be behind bladder retention, too. Foreign objects inserted into the urethra can block the normal flow of urine. Medications given to treat colds and depression as well as surgical anesthesia can tighten the urethra muscles or relax the bladder muscles, both of which cause bladder retention. Like bladder diverticula, excessive consumption of alcohol can also contribute to your bladder's being unable to fully empty itself.

  Diseases such as diabetes, metal poisoning and nerve damage can damage the urinary system and cause urinary retention.

  The first step toward a cure needs to be a trip to the doctor to determine what has caused the bladder retention. The doctor's exam will likely require X-rays, blood sample, urine test, rectal exam for men, and a prostate biopsy.

Treatments

• The simplest treatments include medications. If the patient's bladder retention is caused by bacteria, antibiotics will be prescribed. For men, two different medications may be prescribed if the prostate is to blame for the retention. Alpha blockers are prescribed to relax the prostate, while inhibitors to stop the production of 5-alpha-reductase prevent the man's body from producing a hormone which makes the prostate grow larger.

  More serious bladder retention may require the use of a catheter to drain the excess urine from the bladder. If an obstruction is causing the retention, surgery is often required to remove the object. Surgery is also used for testicular removal when the body is producing too much testosterone. Excess testosterone causes cancer and the tumors can cause blockage and urinary retention.

  For men, the prostate may be made smaller using special ultrasounds or a procedure known as transurethral needle ablation. The prostate may be removed using a special laser procedure known as interstitial laser coagulation.