Which term describes the condition of an inability to urinate?

Which term describes the condition of an inability to urinate?

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

Answer: (A)

Inability to urinate is urinary retention. This term describes a situation where the bladder cannot empty properly, either because it can’t start a urination or cannot complete it, leading to a feeling of pressure, discomfort, and sometimes a distended bladder. Urinary retention can be acute or chronic and may result from obstruction (like an enlarged prostate in men), nerve or muscle problems affecting the bladder, medications, or recent surgery. The other terms refer to different urine issues. Nocturia means waking at night to urinate, not an inability to void. Oliguria means producing abnormally small amounts of urine, which is about output volume, not the ability to urinate. Polyuria means producing abnormally large amounts of urine, again about volume rather than an inability to void.

Inability to urinate is urinary retention. This term describes a situation where the bladder cannot empty properly, either because it can’t start a urination or cannot complete it, leading to a feeling of pressure, discomfort, and sometimes a distended bladder. Urinary retention can be acute or chronic and may result from obstruction (like an enlarged prostate in men), nerve or muscle problems affecting the bladder, medications, or recent surgery.

The other terms refer to different urine issues. Nocturia means waking at night to urinate, not an inability to void. Oliguria means producing abnormally small amounts of urine, which is about output volume, not the ability to urinate. Polyuria means producing abnormally large amounts of urine, again about volume rather than an inability to void.