Retention of Urine  and Incomplete Bladder Emptying after TURP and Bipolar TURP (Transurethral Resection of Prostate) 

by Alex Shteynshlyuger MD


If you have any questions, to schedule a consultation, please contact us or call/text: 1-646-663-4044.

We have excellent reviews from patients and their partners.  Information for out-of-state and international patients.  

We offer affordable prices with or without insurance.  Same-day virtual video appointments and in-person appointments are available.


What is the Cause of Incomplete Bladder Emptying and Retention after TURP and Bipolar TURP?

Urinary retention after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP or bipolar TURP) can occur in as many as 20% of men. 

Urinary retention after TURP can be transient due to small blood clots obstructing the flow or postoperative swelling.  Urinary retention after anesthesia can also occur temporarily.

Some men have persistent urinary retention after transurethral resection of the prostate and are unable to urinate after multiple trials of voiding (multiple attempts to remove the urinary catheter).

Some men have a persistent sensation of incomplete bladder emptying after TURP.  They are able to urinate but may not be emptying the bladder completely and may still have persistent urinary symptoms such as frequent urination, slow urine stream, and the need to wake up multiple times at night to urinate.

At New York Urology Specialists, we specialize in treating men with persistent urinary retention after TURP and other surgeries.

Where to Get Treatment for Urinary Retention after TURP in NYC?

At New York Urology Specialists, we offer specialized treatment for enlarged prostate for men.  Same-day virtual video appointments and in-person appointments are available.

Call/text today: 1-646-663-4044 or make an appointment online.  

We perform a cystoscopy, urodynamic testing, prostate and bladder ultrasound in our office.  We offer Urolift procedure, Rezum water-vapor procedure in our office, and laser enucleation of the prostate in a hospital setting.  We treat urinary and erection problems. We offer confidential appointments.

Our appointment costs are affordable with or without insurance.  We offer free insurance verification.

Most common causes of incomplete bladder emptying and retention of urine after TURP and bipolar TURP as follows:

  • Urinary clot retention
  • UTI
  • Poorly functioning bladder muscles (detrusor hypotonia)
  • Large prostate with incomplete resection of obstructive prostate tissue
  • Urethral stricture after TURP or bipolar TURP
  • Narcotic pain medications and anticholinergic medications

Treatment of Urinary Retention after TURP and Bipolar TURP

The short-term approach to treating urinary retention after bipolar TURP is to make sure the bladder is emptying completely.  Typically, urinary catheterization with a Foley catheter is performed.  Foley catheter is a catheter that empties your bladder to a bag that drains urine, typically strapped to your thigh.  At New York Urology Specialists, whenever possible, we try to teach patients to do clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) which means the patient uses a small catheter to self-catheterize himself 3-4 times a day to empty the bladder.  More than 85% of our patients are able to self-catheterize successfully.  This minimizes the risk of infection and complications.

Most of the time, a patient is able to urinate on his own within a few weeks after TURP.  If urinary retention or incomplete bladder emptying persists after a few weeks, a thorough re-evaluation should be performed.

Typically, a uroflow test with post-void urinary residual measurement is performed.  Cystoscopy is a very valuable test in this situation.  If a urodynamic study was not performed prior to TURP, a urodynamic study is used to determine whether the bladder detrusor muscle is functioning normally.  Urodynamics study can also help elucidate whether there is a dynamic obstruction during urination.

Treatment Options for Persistent Urinary Retention in Adult Men after Bipolar and Mono-polar TURP.

Urinary retention after TURP can be classified into 2 categories: obstructive urinary retention and non-obstructive urinary retention.

Obstructive urinary retention is caused by urinary blockage, typically persistent obstructive prostate tissue, or development of urethral stricture or bladder neck contraction (a type of scarring after surgery).  Meatal stenosis (narrowing of the tip of the penis) is a common type of urethral stricture after TURP and bipolar TURP occurring in 2-5% of patients.

For patients who developed meatal stenosis, urethral stricture or bladder neck contraction, surgical procedure, urethroplasty, or internal optical urethrotomy, is typically necessary to correct urethral narrowing.

For patients with obstructive urinary retention caused by persistent obstructive prostate tissue, treatment options include prostate enucleation, open or robotic prostatectomy, repeat TURP, Greenlight laser procedure, or a similar transurethral procedure.

At New York Urology Specialists, our extensive experience with prostate enucleation makes it the preferred approach to treating patients with a very large prostate including those patients who have persistent urinary retention caused by the large obstructive prostate.  Studies show that laser prostate enucleation allows for minimally invasive, optimal removal of blocking tissue in men with very large prostates without the need for open surgery.

Non-obstructive urinary retention is caused by poorly functioning bladder muscle that does not contract properly to expel urine from the bladder.  This may be caused by abnormal innervation or abnormal muscle function.  Typically, the treatment of non-obstructive urinary retention is more challenging.  Many patients can be helped with InterStim neuromodulation for non-obstructive urinary retention. Clean-intermittent catheterization is preferred over indwelling urinary catheters whenever practical and possible. 

Treatment Options for Persistent Symptoms of Incomplete Emptying after TURP.

For patients who have persistent symptoms of incomplete bladder emptying after TURP, re-evaluation needs to be performed.  If patients have a persistent obstruction, depending on the severity of obstruction number of options are available. 

If the residual prostate tissue is extensive and obstruction is moderate to severe, laser enucleation of the prostate or Greenlight laser of the prostate can be performed. 

For patients with mild residual obstruction, the Urolift procedure or Rezum procedure for enlarged prostate can be performed in the convenience of the office without the need for general anesthesia.

For patients who have a large bladder diverticulum, bladder diverticulectomy can often improve voiding function but care needs to be taken before proceeding with bladder diverticulectomy as some patients have small bladder capacity and maybe worse off after diverticulectomy than before.

 For some patients, timed voiding can help with urinary symptoms.  For patients with nonobstructive incomplete bladder emptying, the InterStim procedure can be of benefit.

We offer personalized treatment options for BPH for men with symptoms of an enlarged prostate.

Did you know? Dr. Shteynshlyuger has performed over 1,000 surgeries and procedures for enlarged prostate, including Rezum, Urolift, prostate enucleation, laser ablation of the prostate, and TURP.  He performs over 100 prostate procedures a year.

Cost of Enlarged Prostate Treatment without Insurance after TURP

At New York Urology Specialists, we offer affordable treatment for men. Our prices are low for patients without insurance and for those who have high insurance copays, high deductibles, or insurance plans that do not cover treatment costs. 

At New York Urology Specialists, we offer a flat-fee ‘all-cost-included’ Rezum procedure.  The procedure is performed in our office under local anesthesia. Men from other states can save thousands of dollars over local hospital fees by coming to New York Urology Specialists for treatment.  Please contact us for current prices and discounts for patients without insurance or with high insurance deductibles.

At New York Urology Specialists, we offer a flat-fee ‘all-cost-included’ Urolift procedure.  The procedure is performed in our office under local anesthesia. Men from other states can save thousands of dollars over local hospital fees by coming to New York Urology Specialists for treatment. 

Cost of Treatment and Insurance

Inexpensive Urologist Visit CostAt New York Urology Specialists, we offer affordable treatment for men. Our prices are low for patients without insurance and for those who have high insurance copays, high deductibles, or insurance plans that do not cover treatment costs. 

We accept many health insurance plans.  We would be happy to verify your eligibility and benefits and to provide you with detailed information on your health plan’s coverage.  Financing options and credit options are available to help you pay for medical care.

Read Real Stories of Men who Underwent Treatment of Enlarged Prostate (BPH) at New York Urology Specialists

We offer treatment for prostate problems, including slow urine stream, frequent urination at night, difficulty emptying the bladder, and other problems to patients within driving distance to our offices as well as from other states and countries.  Our patients come from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and over 70 countries worldwide.

Why Choose New York Urology Specialists for Treatment of Enlarged Prostate Problems?

  • All treatment is performed by a board-certified urologist experienced in treating men with symptoms of frequent urination, urinary urgency, urinary incontinence, and bladder pain using medical therapy, minimally invasive therapies, lasers, and open surgery.
  • We are one of the few practices in the region to offer a full range of options for the treatment of urinary problems caused by an enlarged prostate in men.
  • We offer treatment options for enlarged prostate, overactive bladder, UTI, and urinary incontinence in our office, which avoids the risks, costs, and recovery from general anesthesia.  
  • Extensive experience: Thousands of men have been treated successfully using medical therapy, surgery, and minimally invasive procedures such as Urolift procedure, Rezum surgery, Botox for overactive bladder, Interstim for frequent urination, and tibial neuromodulation.
  • We offer diagnostic testing in our office, which avoids hospital costs.
  • Confidential and Understanding Care. We understand that most of our patients desire privacy.  We see patients with a variety of urological problems. Your reason for visiting us is entirely confidential.
  • We are conveniently located within a 30-60 minute commute to men who are seeking BPH treatment in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Westchester, Long Island, Bronx, and New Jersey.

What do Prostate Problems Look Like?

You can find images of uroflow as well as before and after treatment images in our image gallery.

Scheduling Appointments for Enlarged Prostate Treatment at New York Urology Specialists


If you have any questions, to schedule a consultation, please contact us or call/text: 1-646-663-4044.

We have excellent reviews from patients and their partners.  Information for out-of-state and international patients.  Find out our office hours or directions to our office

We offer affordable appointment prices with or without insurance.  We offer weekday, weekend, and evening office hours.

Dr. Alex Shteynshlyuger is a board-certified urologist and specialist in the treatment of urinary problems in men.  He is one of the few urologists who offers a full range of treatment options for BPH (enlarged prostate).  He specializes in all aspects of care for men with an enlarged prostate and urinary problems, including frequent urination at night, difficulty emptying the bladder, urinary urgency, and incontinence.  He has successfully treated thousands of men with urinary problems, including urinary retention, painful urination, and frequent urination.


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Urinary Problems Are Treatable in Nearly Every Man and Woman

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At New York Urology Specialists, our urologists are specially trained in the evaluation and treatment of urinary problems caused by enlarged prostate and BPH in men.  We understand the challenges that urinary problems such as a slow stream, waking up at night, pain in the penis and perineum create for our patients, their relationships, and their self-esteem.  We help you find a treatment for your urinary problems that fit your needs, lifestyle, and your preferences.

Urologists are doctors specializing in the treatment of men with symptoms caused by prostate enlargement, including frequent urination, poor urine flow, frequent UTI, blood in urine, urinary incontinence, urinary problems caused by an enlarged prostate, prior surgery, neuropathy, chemotherapy, and radiation. By virtue of our experience and skill, we are able to offer an effective treatment option for nearly every man and woman who desire an effective treatment for their urinary problems.  We offer medical and surgical treatment for men’s prostate problems.

We specialize in minimally invasive, highly effective treatment for symptoms of bladder pain, urethral burning, pelvic discomfort, incomplete bladder emptying, urinary frequency, and urgency.

We Treat Some of the Most Complex Men’s Health Problems Including:

Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Shteynshlyuger:

Call/text today: 1-646-663-4044 or make an appointment online

Dr. Alex Shteynshlyuger is a fellowship-trained, board-certified urologist with expertise in the evaluation and treatment of urinary problems in men using modern effective and proven treatment methods including Botox for OAB, Interstim neuromodulation, Rezum for BPH, prostate enucleation for enlarged prostate, and Urolift procedure.  

He has successfully treated hundreds of men with BPH with symptoms of frequent urination during the day and excessive urination at night.

He is highly recommended by top primary care physicians in the New York area. If you or someone you know has been experiencing urological symptoms, make an appointment to take advantage of Dr. Shteynshlyuger’s expert advice. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.


If you have any questions, to schedule a consultation, please contact us or call/text: 1-646-663-4044.

We have excellent reviews from patients and their partners.  Information for out-of-state and international patients.  Find out our office hours or directions to our office

We offer affordable appointment prices with or without insurance.