NATIONAL2BASSOCIATION2BFOR2BCONTINENCE2BURINARY2BINCONTINENCE2BEDUCATION 1024x145 1
Donate Now
Search
Donate Now
Subscribe
NATIONAL2BASSOCIATION2BFOR2BCONTINENCE2BURINARY2BINCONTINENCE2BEDUCATION
Search
Donate Now
[give_form id="19690"]

High & Low Risk Urinary Retention

Browse By Topic
Urinary incontinence
Bowel health
Pelvic floor
Caregiving
More +
Search
URINARY INCONTINENCE
BOWEL HEALTH
PELVIC HEALTH
CAREGIVING
MORE+

Urinary Retention

In general, urinary retention is defined as the inability for the bladder to empty to completion. It may be a chronic or an acute condition experienced by men and women due to several health problems – including structural and neurological issues.

Post Void Residual

An American Urological Association (AUA) white paper titled Non-Neurogenic Chronic Urinary Retention: Consensus Definition, Management Strategies, and Future Opportunities states that a reasonable definition of non-neurogenic chronic urinary retention (CUR) is a bladder volume > 300 ml documented twice in a 6-month period.1 Furthermore, it, classifies urinary retention as high-risk and low-risk plus symptomatic and asymptomatic. 1

Low-Risk

Examples of low-risk or asymptomatic urinary retention can be incomplete bladder emptying that does not put an individual at any significant additional health risks. In this case, there would be no evidence of hydronephrosis, and renal function would be well preserved.

High-Risk

As the words imply, a person with high-risk urinary retention has incomplete bladder emptying that could, if not treated, cause the patient harm. For example, urinary retention that results in hydronephrosis or fluid backing back up in the kidneys, resulting in less-than-optimal renal function, is considered high-risk.

A person with high-risk urinary retention may present with:

  • Acute or chronic symptoms of lower abdominal pain
  • An elevated serum creatinine or GFR
  • Recurrent urinary tract infections
  • Urinary incontinence with or without skin breakdown

Treatment options for the high-risk urinary retention may include:

  • Decompression of the bladder, by insertion of a foley catheter or intermittent catheterization to reduce the stress on the kidneys
  • Surgical Intervention
Products Convatec.

Solutions for Confident Living

If your doctor has prescribed intermittent catheterization to manage your bladder health, try a Convatec Continence Care innovative option. It is easy to find an ideal solution among the portfolio of options for men, women, and children. Request GentleCath™ and Cure® complimentary product samples today.

Need help?

We are here for you. Contact the me+™ Team at https://www.convatec.com/continence-care/ to receive assistance and helpful resources.

“The me+ program is amazing and was so helpful to me and my recovery! Thank you Convatec for providing these immensely valuable resources.” – Convatec me+ member

References:

*Data on file. Convatec, 2024

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

A blue and white circular badge with the text TRUSTED PARTNER on top, SERVICE EXCELLENCE on the bottom, NAFC 2026 in the center, and white stars on a ribbon-like design on each side.

Click here for more about our Trusted Partners, including special offers on products and services.

pelvic floor power podcast

Related Articles

Five women of varying ages stand close together, smiling and laughing. The text discusses vital conversations on health—from postpartum to incontinence after prostate cancer surgery—on the Life Without Leaks NAFC podcast.

From Postpartum to Postmenopause: The Conversations Women Need to Have

In this episode of Life Without Leaks, we’re joined by Dr. Barbara Frank of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, along with Alex Fennell, co-founder of Attn: Grace, an innovative manufacturer of incontinence products.

Together, we explore the realities of bladder leaks and pelvic floor health during pregnancy, postpartum recovery, perimenopause and menopause, and we discuss why more women are finally beginning to talk more openly about their experiences.

The conversation covers:
• The connection between hormones, menopause and bladder leaks
• Why pelvic floor therapy is having a major moment
• The surprising relationship between pelvic floor tension and incontinence
• How products can impact skin health, comfort and UTIs
• The truth about hormone replacement therapy
• Why community and conversation matter so much in women’s health

Alex also shares the story behind Attn: Grace and the company’s mission to create cleaner, plant-based incontinence products designed to support women with comfort, dignity and confidence.

Whether you’re navigating postpartum recovery, menopause symptoms or simply looking to better understand pelvic health, this episode offers expert insights, practical advice and an encouraging reminder that no one should feel alone in these experiences.

A person sitting on a beige bath mat is placing an incontinence pad into their underwear for skin protection. A box labeled Attn: Grace with blue designs sits on the mat nearby.

Ask The Expert: From A Doctor’s Perspective What Are Some Common Questions You Hear?

If you’ve ever sneezed and held your breath hoping for the best, you’re not alone. Bladder leaks, pelvic floor issues, and the constellation of symptoms that go with them are incredibly common — and incredibly under-discussed. We sat down with two of our favorite experts who are changing the bladder leak conversation: Dr. Barbara Frank, Attn: Grace medical advisor and board certified OB/GYN, and Dr. Sara Reardon, pelvic floor physical therapist (and the woman your pelvic floor has been waiting to meet). They took turns asking each other the questions their patients ask most — and answered them with the same candor they bring to the exam room. They cover everything from how to prepare for postpartum, to what question to ask your own pelvic floor PT, to how to manage incontinence during menopause. This is a knowledge drop you don’t want to miss.

Two older women smiling and walking together on a sunny neighborhood sidewalk, one holding a coffee cup. Both enjoy the confidence provided by discreet incontinence products for women. Trees and houses line the street in the background.

How Aging Changes Bladder Control — What Most People Don’t Expect

As an RN who’s worked in geriatrics for over 14 years, I know first hand that changes in bladder control can be a common part of aging. However, what I’ve also learned is that the treatment and management of these changes differ depending on whether they are due to aging or other conditions.
If you’re experiencing more frequent trips to the bathroom or sudden, intense urges to urinate, you might be wondering what is going on and what you can do about it. Let’s talk through some of the changes that might be going on in your body and how you can be better prepared to manage your bladder control.

Five women of varying ages stand close together, smiling and laughing. The text discusses vital conversations on health—from postpartum to incontinence after prostate cancer surgery—on the Life Without Leaks NAFC podcast.

From Postpartum to Postmenopause: The Conversations Women Need to Have

In this episode of Life Without Leaks, we’re joined by Dr. Barbara Frank of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, along with Alex Fennell, co-founder of Attn: Grace, an innovative manufacturer of incontinence products.

Together, we explore the realities of bladder leaks and pelvic floor health during pregnancy, postpartum recovery, perimenopause and menopause, and we discuss why more women are finally beginning to talk more openly about their experiences.

The conversation covers:
• The connection between hormones, menopause and bladder leaks
• Why pelvic floor therapy is having a major moment
• The surprising relationship between pelvic floor tension and incontinence
• How products can impact skin health, comfort and UTIs
• The truth about hormone replacement therapy
• Why community and conversation matter so much in women’s health

Alex also shares the story behind Attn: Grace and the company’s mission to create cleaner, plant-based incontinence products designed to support women with comfort, dignity and confidence.

Whether you’re navigating postpartum recovery, menopause symptoms or simply looking to better understand pelvic health, this episode offers expert insights, practical advice and an encouraging reminder that no one should feel alone in these experiences.