This condition is common in aging men. It is often caused by an enlarged prostate. Bladder stones and bladder cancer are also more commonly seen in men than women. As a man ages, the chances of getting these diseases increase greatly.

Other common causes of BOO include:

• Pelvic tumors (cervix, prostate, uterus, rectum)
• Narrowing of the tube that carries urine out of the body from the bladder (urethra), due to scar tissue or certain birth defects

Less common causes include:

• Cystocele (when the bladder falls into the vagina)
• Foreign objects in the bladder or urethra
• Urethral or pelvic muscle spasms
• Inguinal (groin) hernia

The symptoms of BOO may vary, but can include:

• Abdominal pain
• Continuous feeling of a full bladder
• Frequent urination
• Pain during urination (dysuria)
• Problems starting urination (urinary hesitancy)
• Slow, uneven urine flow, at times being unable to urinate
• Straining to urinate
• Urinary tract infection
• Waking up at night to urinate (nocturia)
• Urinary incontinence

Your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history. You will undergo a physical exam.

One or more of the following problems may be found:

• Abdominal swelling
• Cystocele (women)
• Enlarged bladder
• Enlarged prostate (men)

Tests may include:

• Blood chemistries to look for signs of kidney damage
• Cystoscopy and retrograde urethrogram (x-ray) to look for narrowing of the urethra
• Tests to determine how fast urine flows out of the body (uroflowmetry)
• Tests to see how much the urine flow is blocked and how well the bladder contracts (urodynamic testing)
• Ultrasound to locate the blockage of urine and find out how well the bladder empties
• Urinalysis to look for blood or signs of infection in the urine
• Urine culture to check for an infection

Treatment of BOO depends on its cause. A tube, called a catheter, is inserted into the bladder through the urethra. This is done to relieve the blockage.

Sometimes, a catheter is placed through the belly area into the bladder to drain the bladder. This is called a suprapubic tube.

Most often, you will need surgery for a long-term cure of BOO. However, many of the diseases that cause this problem can be treated with medicines. Talk to your provider about possible treatments.

Most causes of BOO can be cured if diagnosed early. However, if the diagnosis or treatment is delayed, this can cause permanent damage to the bladder or kidneys.

Contact your provider if you have symptoms of BOO.

BOO; Lower urinary tract obstruction; Prostatism; Urinary retention - BOO

• Kidney anatomy
• Female urinary tract
• Male urinary tract
• Kidney - blood and urine flow

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Cruz F, Michel MC, Igawa Y. Pharmacologic management of lower urinary tract storage and emptying failure. In: Dmochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, et al, eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 113.

Heesakkers JPFA, Smits M, van Koeveringe G. Electrical stimulation and neuromodulation in storage and emptying failure. In: Dmochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, et al. eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 115.

Kaplan SA. Benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 114.

Updated by: Kelly L. Stratton, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, Department of Urology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

• Bladder Diseases