Urinary Urgency
Urinary urgency is a sudden compelling need to pass urine that is difficult to defer. It is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and may result from infection, overactive bladder, incomplete emptying, stones or neurological disease.
Key points
- Urgency with burning or fever needs infection assessment before overactive-bladder treatment.
- A bladder diary and urine test help distinguish fluid-related frequency from involuntary bladder contractions.
- Antispasmodic treatment may reduce symptoms but can worsen retention or cause anticholinergic adverse effects.
A bladder-medicine listing cannot establish the cause; residual urine, bowel function, cognition, glaucoma and other medicines guide safe treatment.
How is urgency assessed?
Assessment considers pain, leakage, stream, night waking, fluid and caffeine intake, medicines and neurological symptoms. Urine testing can check for infection or blood; a bladder scan can identify incomplete emptying.
What can help overactive bladder?
Bladder training and adjusting excessive caffeine or poorly timed fluid may help selected cases. Flavoxate is one symptom medicine but does not treat infection or obstruction. See bladder health for class context.
When to seek urgent care
Seek urgent care for urgency with fever and flank pain, visible blood or clots, inability to urinate, new leg weakness, groin numbness, loss of bladder control or severe pelvic pain.