Skip to main content

Acute Urinary Retention in Women

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 2, 2024.

Acute urinary retention (AUR) means your bladder is full, but you cannot urinate. This condition happens suddenly, gets worse quickly, and lasts a short time.

Female Urinary System

DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS:

Call your local emergency number (911 in the US) for any of the following:

Return to the emergency department if:

Call your doctor or gynecologist if:

Medicines:

Treatment options

The following list of medications are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

Foley catheter care:

You may need a Foley catheter while you are at home. Healthcare providers will give you a smaller leg bag to collect urine. Keep the bag below your waist. This will prevent urine from flowing back into your bladder and causing an infection or other problems. Also, keep the tube free of kinks so the urine will drain properly. Do not pull on the catheter. This can cause pain and bleeding, and may cause the catheter to come out. Ask your healthcare provider for more information on Foley catheter care.


Follow up with your doctor or gynecologist as directed:

Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.

© Copyright Merative 2024 Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.