What is urinary retention?
A person with urinary retention is unable to empty the bladder completely. If the person is unable to release any urine from the bladder, then urine continues to collect in the bladder. In these cases, the bladder becomes swollen and very painful. The most common cause for sudden urinary retention in a man is an enlarged prostate gland.

What are the symptoms of urinary retention?
Symptoms of urinary retention include urinating very small amounts of urine. Symptoms of severe urinary retention include the inability to urinate, abdominal swelling, lower abdominal pain, and low back pain.

How does the doctor treat urinary retention?
Treatment for urinary retention depends on the underlying cause. Initial treatment for urinary retention may include the insertion of a urinary catheter into the bladder, in order to drain the bladder. Medication or surgery may be required to treat the underlying cause for the urinary retention.