Acute Urinary Retention and Menstrual Cup Use: Case Report

This case report of acute urinary retention describes a triggered by lower urinary tract infection and simultaneous menstrual cup use and the need to specifically question the use of a menstrual cup in women of childbearing age. The anatomical proximity of the bladder and ureters, combined with the thinness and plasticity of the vaginal, wall caused the bladder of the patient to become entrapped in the menstrual cup. The menstrual cup compressed the urethra/bladder neck and, aggravated by a lower urinary tract infection, caused acute urinary retention. Symptom relief upon removal of the menstrual cup supports this reasoning. In case of a urinary tract infection, question the use of a menstrual cup in women of childbearing age and menstrual cup use should be deferred until symptom improvement, to decrease the risk of acute urinary retention.