Urinary Retention & Voiding Dysfunction
Diagnosis and treatment when the bladder does not empty completely, with Dr. Tabakin in New Brunswick, NJ.
In short: Urinary retention means the bladder does not empty completely, whether suddenly or gradually over time; voiding dysfunction covers related problems with emptying. Dr. Alexandra Tabakin, a urologist and fellowship-trained urogynecologist in New Brunswick, NJ, evaluates the cause, which can include prolapse, neurological conditions, medications or prior surgery, and builds a treatment plan around it.
What is urinary retention?
Urinary retention occurs when you are unable to completely empty your bladder. This can be acute (sudden inability to urinate) or chronic (difficulty emptying the bladder over time). Voiding dysfunction encompasses various problems with bladder emptying.
Talk to a specialist. Dr. Tabakin sees new patients at her New Brunswick office, in the Clinical Academic Building at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
What are the symptoms of urinary retention?
- Difficulty starting urination
- Weak or intermittent urine stream
- Feeling of incomplete bladder emptying
- Frequent urination in small amounts
- Urinary urgency
- Lower abdominal discomfort
What causes urinary retention?
Urinary retention can be caused by various factors including pelvic organ prolapse, neurological conditions, medications, prior pelvic surgery, or bladder dysfunction. Dr. Tabakin will perform a thorough evaluation to identify the underlying cause and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
Learn more from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Urinary Retention.
Page updated October 2026.
Related pages: Sacral Neuromodulation
Schedule a Consultation