Urinary Retention Treatment
When Your Bladder Won’t Fully Empty
Expert pelvic floor therapy to retrain the muscles that control bladder emptying and restore normal function.
Understanding Urinary Retention
The Bladder Problem Nobody Talks About
Everyone knows about incontinence — leaking when you don’t want to. But the opposite problem is just as common and just as frustrating: urinary retention, when you can’t fully empty your bladder even when you want to.
You might feel like you always have urine left over. You go to the bathroom, finish, stand up — and immediately feel like you need to go again. Your stream might be weak, slow to start, or stop and start. You might need to push, lean forward, or change position to get urine to flow.
This is often a pelvic floor coordination problem. To urinate, your pelvic floor muscles need to relax while your bladder contracts. When your pelvic floor can’t fully let go — due to tension, spasm, or poor coordination — your bladder can’t empty properly.
This condition is surprisingly common, especially in women who have tight pelvic floor muscles, are postpartum, or have had pelvic surgery. And it responds very well to pelvic floor PT.
Signs & Symptoms
Signs You May Have Urinary Retention
Incomplete Emptying
A persistent feeling that your bladder isn’t fully empty after urinating. You finish but still feel like there’s more — because there is.
Frequent Small-Volume Trips
Going to the bathroom often but only producing small amounts each time. Because your bladder isn’t emptying fully, it fills up again quickly.
Weak or Slow Stream
A urine stream that’s weaker than it used to be, takes a long time to start, or stops and starts instead of flowing continuously.
Straining to Urinate
Needing to push, bear down, or lean forward to get urine to flow. Normal urination should not require effort — your pelvic floor should relax and let it happen.
Recurrent UTIs
Residual urine sitting in your bladder creates a breeding ground for bacteria. Frequent UTIs can be a sign of incomplete bladder emptying. Learn about bladder pain →
Double Voiding
Needing to go again within a few minutes of finishing. This is a classic sign — your first attempt didn’t fully empty, so you quickly feel the urge to go again.
How PT Helps
Retraining Your Pelvic Floor to Let Go
When urinary retention is caused by pelvic floor dysfunction — which is the most common cause in women — the treatment is about teaching your muscles to relax and coordinate properly during urination.
Treatment Includes:
- Pelvic Floor Down-Training: Teaching your pelvic floor muscles how to fully relax during urination — many women don’t realize their muscles are staying partially contracted
- Coordination Retraining: Practicing the proper sequence of bladder contraction + pelvic floor relaxation that allows complete emptying
- Manual Therapy: Releasing trigger points and tension in pelvic floor muscles that are contributing to the inability to relax
- Biofeedback: Visual or tactile feedback to help you see and feel when your pelvic floor is truly releasing
- Voiding Posture & Strategies: Optimizing your position and technique on the toilet for better emptying
- Bladder Habits Education: Correcting habits like straining, hovering over the toilet, or “just in case” voiding that worsen retention
What to Expect
Most patients notice improvement within 4-6 sessions as they learn to identify and release pelvic floor tension. Significant improvement in emptying typically occurs over 8-12 sessions. Dr. Danaya will also assess whether other factors — like prolapse, nerve issues, or muscle spasm — are contributing.
Patient Stories
What Patients Say
“Dr. Danaya is absolutely wonderful - professional and personal at the same time. She is knowledgeable and really takes the time to focus on each patient’s needs. I highly recommend her!”
— Jane Brunstad — Pelvic Health
*Reviews reflect Dr. Danaya’s work at her previous Utah Valley practice
Your Questions Answered
Common Questions About Urinary Retention
Can physical therapy help with urinary retention?
Yes! When retention is caused by pelvic floor muscle dysfunction — which is very common in women — PT is one of the most effective treatments. The focus is on retraining muscles to properly relax during urination.
How do I know if my retention is a pelvic floor issue?
If you have difficulty starting your stream, feel like you can’t fully empty, or need to strain to urinate — and your medical provider hasn’t found an anatomical or neurological cause — it’s very likely a pelvic floor coordination issue. A PT assessment can confirm this.
Is urinary retention common after childbirth?
Yes, temporary retention is common postpartum — especially after epidural, long labor, or instrumental delivery. Most cases resolve quickly, but some women have ongoing difficulty that benefits from PT.
Can retention lead to UTIs?
Yes. Residual urine in the bladder creates an environment where bacteria can grow. Recurrent UTIs are a common consequence of incomplete emptying — treating the retention often reduces UTI frequency.
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Let's talk about your bladder symptoms, identify what's happening, and create a plan to help you empty fully and comfortably.
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