Urinary retention is defined by which condition?

• A. Confirmed on 2 separate occasions, symptoms present for at least 6 months
• B. A single episode of voiding difficulty
• C. Absence of symptoms with high residual
• D. Onset after age 70

Answer: (A)

Chronic urinary retention is defined by persistent difficulty in voiding or incomplete bladder emptying that lasts over time and is documented on more than one occasion. The key idea is not just having a single episode, but symptoms that persist for a substantial period, typically confirmed on two separate visits and lasting at least six months. This distinguishes a lasting, chronic problem from a one-time or transient issue. The other options describe either a single episode, asymptomatic retention with high residual, or a criterion (age of onset) that isn’t how retention is defined, so they don’t fit the definition of chronic retention.