Urinary Retention
In healthy individuals, a full bladder triggers urination. This is because waste products in the form of urine leave the body efficiently. However, people with urinary retention cannot empty their bladders when they urinate. This condition, also known as urinary retention, is commonplace among men with enlarged prostates.
Urinary retention in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia may be acute or chronic. Men with early signs of prostate gland enlargement will experience acute retention until they receive the appropriate treatment. However, older adults with untreated benign prostatic hyperplasia are known to suffer from chronic urinary retention. This is because an enlarged prostate gland presses against the urethra, resulting in an individual’s inability to empty the bladder.
To confirm the presence of urinary retention, men with benign prostatic hyperplasia will need to undergo a physical examination. Traditionally, a physician will assess the lower abdomen and perform a rectal exam to check the extent of prostate swelling.
Medications to resolve urinary retention in men with enlarged prostates include taking alpha-blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. These medications are designed to relax the smooth muscles of the urethra and reduce the size of enlarged prostate glands.
