# Can't Pee

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-pee/67489>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 4, 2001, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-pee/67489 "2001-06-04T05:18:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Holly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/48db29/32.png) [@Holly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Holly)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-pee/67489/21 "2001-06-05T14:33:12Z")

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Urinary retention usually refers to the bladder’s inability to empty completely, for example in people with hypotonic (weak-muscled) bladders.

A better term for the inability to get the stream started is “hesitance”.

Trust me; I’m an RN. 🙂

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