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Urinary retention
Urinary retention — being unable to empty the bladder — is often the end stage of an enlarged prostate left untreated too long. Our approach is to treat earlier, so fewer men ever reach that point.
Urinary retention means the bladder can't empty properly — partially (chronic) or completely (acute). Acute, complete retention is painful and a medical emergency that needs prompt bladder drainage. Chronic retention develops quietly and can damage the bladder and kidneys over time.
In men, retention most often comes from an enlarged prostate (BPH) that has gradually obstructed the flow. Many practices wait — managing symptoms with medication — until the bladder finally fails and retention forces a surgical procedure. We take a different view.
Treating significant prostate obstruction earlier may help preserve bladder function and reduce the risk of progressing to retention. We'd rather intervene before the bladder is damaged than wait for a crisis.
One reason we can treat earlier is prostate artery embolization (PAE) — a minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure that shrinks the prostate's blood supply to relieve obstruction. It's well tolerated and doesn't carry the same threshold as major surgery, so it's a reasonable option earlier in the process. Dr. Shusterman performs PAE through our dedicated prostate center, with over 1,000 procedures since 2021.
If you've had an episode of retention or are using a catheter, we can evaluate the cause, relieve the obstruction, and work toward getting you catheter-free with the least invasive approach that fits.
Why it matters
Because we have a combined urology and interventional radiology team in-office, we diagnose and treat the large majority of what we do right here — see how our in-office model works.
If you're straining, emptying poorly, getting up repeatedly at night, or have had a retention episode, don't wait for it to worsen. Call (212) 991-9991 or book a consultation. Sudden, complete inability to urinate is an emergency — seek immediate care.
Most often an enlarged prostate (BPH) that has gradually obstructed urine flow. Other causes include urethral stricture, nerve issues, and certain medications. We evaluate to find the specific cause.
Often it can be reduced or delayed by treating significant prostate obstruction earlier, rather than waiting until the bladder fails. Earlier treatment may help preserve bladder function — that's central to our approach.
Prostate artery embolization is a minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure that shrinks the prostate's blood supply to relieve obstruction. Because it's well tolerated, it can be a reasonable option earlier in the process, before retention develops.
Yes. Sudden, complete inability to urinate is painful and requires prompt bladder drainage — seek immediate care. We can then evaluate the cause and plan treatment to prevent it from recurring.
Often, yes. We evaluate why retention happened, relieve the underlying obstruction, and work toward getting you catheter-free using the least invasive approach that fits your situation.
Book a men's-health visit at our Manhattan or Forest Hills office — a simple step that's easy to keep putting off.
Manhattan & Queens · All Five Boroughs