Acute urinary retention in the first and second-trimester of pregnancy: Three case reports

BACKGROUND: Acute urinary retention (AUR) is rare during pregnancy. CASE SUMMARY: We report on three pregnant women with AUR between the 10(th) and 18(th )wk of gestation. Case 1 was first diagnosed as urinary tract infection and developed a urinary tract infection due to urinary retention caused by urethral obstruction. Case 2 had a history of previous abdominal surgery for pelvic tuberculosis, leading to severe adhesions and a persistent retroverted uterus. In case 3, healthcare providers focused on the patient’s gastrointestinal symptoms and did not investigate her inability to void. Case 1 required manual disimpaction of the uterus and the knee-chest position. The other cases required immediate catheterization. The condition resolved in cases 1 and 2; these patients had normal pregnancies. Case 3 had severe complications at the time of consultation, leading to an abortion. CONCLUSION: Retroverted uterus is the most common cause of AUR. Prompt recognition and diagnosis are required. Clinicians should be aware of the risk factors, etiology, and clinical presentation of AUR in the first and second trimester of pregnancy.