- Caused by spasms of the external urethral sphincter (a band of muscle that opens and closes at the exit of the bladder)
- Affects young women (under the age of 30), leading to urinary retention
- Unknown
- Often seen in women who have had a surgical procedure, childbirth, opiate exposure or an infection/illness
- Inability to urinate
- Inability to feel that the bladder is full
- Abnormality of the urethra
- Dysuria (painful/difficult urination)
- Stomach pain
- Polycystic ovaries
- EMG abnormality
- Rule out more common causes of urinary retention
- Determine how much urine the bladder can hold
- Concentric Needle Electromyography (EMG): Will often show a characteristic abnormality
- Sacral Neuromodulation (SNM) Therapy: A device is implanted in the body to help stimulate the nerves to the bladder