Which term describes inability to urinate?

Which term describes inability to urinate?

• A. Nocturia
• B. Urinary Retention
• C. Oliguria
• D. Polyuria

Answer: (B)

Inability to urinate is urinary retention. This means the bladder cannot empty despite the urge to void or an attempt to pass urine. It’s different from nocturia, which is simply waking up at night to urinate; it’s a timing issue, not the inability to void. It’s also different from oliguria, which is producing very little urine, and polyuria, which is producing abnormally large amounts of urine. Urinary retention can be acute or chronic and may arise from an obstruction (like an enlarged prostate), nerve problems affecting bladder emptying, certain medications, or infections.

Inability to urinate is urinary retention. This means the bladder cannot empty despite the urge to void or an attempt to pass urine. It’s different from nocturia, which is simply waking up at night to urinate; it’s a timing issue, not the inability to void. It’s also different from oliguria, which is producing very little urine, and polyuria, which is producing abnormally large amounts of urine. Urinary retention can be acute or chronic and may arise from an obstruction (like an enlarged prostate), nerve problems affecting bladder emptying, certain medications, or infections.