What is the Difference Between Urinary Retention and Urinary Incontinence?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Urinary retention and urinary incontinence are two different medical conditions related to the urinary system. The key difference between them is:
- Urinary Retention: In this condition, people have difficulty emptying their bladder or are unable to completely empty it. It can affect both men and women, but it is more common in men as they age. Some of the main causes of urinary retention include obstruction to the flow out of the bladder (prostate enlargement, faecal impaction, etc.), being unable to pass urine and fully empty the bladder, and the sphincter's failure to relax, allowing urine to be passed normally.
- Urinary Incontinence: This condition causes involuntary urine leakage that cannot be controlled. It is more common in women than men and can be caused by various factors, including aging, childbirth, and menopause.
In summary, urinary retention makes it hard to expel urine, while urinary incontinence makes it hard to hold urine. Both conditions can have negative impacts on a person's quality of life and may require medical intervention for proper diagnosis and treatment.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Urinary Retention and Urinary Incontinence? Comparative Table: Urinary Retention vs Urinary Incontinence
Comparative Table: Urinary Retention vs Urinary Incontinence
Urinary retention and urinary incontinence are two distinct conditions related to the bladder. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the two:
Feature | Urinary Retention | Urinary Incontinence |
---|---|---|
Definition | Inability to voluntarily empty the bladder completely. | Involuntary leakage of urine due to the loss of bladder control. |
Types | Acute and Chronic. | Not applicable. |
Symptoms | Acute: Sudden and often painful inability to void despite a full bladder. Chronic: Non-painful bladder distension, leading to overflow dribbling and risk of impaired upper urinary tract function. | Incontinence after urinating, postvoid residual measurement, mild and constant discomfort in the lower abdomen and urinary tract. |
Complications | Infection and renal failure. | Not applicable. |
Causes | Reduced bladder contractility, poorly sustained detrusor contraction, grouped into infective, pharmacological, neurological, anatomical, myopathic, and functional categories. | Not applicable. |
Treatment | Dependent on the underlying cause, may include medications, surgery, or behavioral modifications. | Not applicable. |
In summary, urinary retention is the inability to voluntarily empty the bladder, while urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine due to the loss of bladder control.
Read more:
- Overactive Bladder vs Urge Incontinence
- UTI vs Overactive Bladder
- UTI vs Bladder Infection
- Nocturia vs Enuresis
- Male vs Female Urinary System
- Ureter vs Urethra
- Interstitial Cystitis vs Overactive Bladder
- Upper vs Lower Urinary Tract Infection
- Prolapsed Bladder vs Prolapsed Uterus
- Nephrostomy vs Urostomy
- Male vs Female Urine
- Urea vs Urine
- Constipation vs Diarrhea
- Bladder Cancer vs UTI
- BPH vs Urethral Stricture
- Bladder vs Gallbladder
- Urethritis vs Cystitis
- Diuresis vs Natriuresis
- Cystitis vs Pyelonephritis