Urinary Retention

Drinking 3 liters of fluid per day, concentrated in the first half of the day, helps flush the kidneys and their tubules. Retained urine backs up through the urinary system, creating congestion within the kidneys and initiating a cascade of downstream complications. An enlarged prostate can physically obstruct urine outflow by pressing upward into the bladder. Autonomic nervous system dysfunction impairs the bladder's ability to contract and the sphincter's ability to fully release urine. Antidepressants and various other medications list urinary retention as a known side effect. A common symptom of urinary retention is the persistent sensation of needing to urinate even though little urine is actually produced.