Urinary Retention ICD-10-CM Codes

Learn about the urinary retention ICD-10-CM codes you can use through this guide.

By Matt Olivares on Aug 8, 2025.

What ICD-10 codes are used for urinary retention?

There are only four specific and accurate urinary retention ICD codes practitioners can use for coding and billing. They are:

R33.0 - Drug-induced retention of urine: This is meant to be used if a patient is confirmed to have urine retention as a result of using certain drugs.
R33.8 - Other retention of urine: This is meant to be used if a patient is confirmed to have urine retention, but the specific reason doesn't have a specific ICD code.
R33.9 - Retention of urine, unspecified: This is meant to be used if a patient is confirmed to have urine retention, but the cause is not specified or known.
R39.14 - Feeling of incomplete bladder emptying: This is meant to be used if patient is confirmed to be feeling that they haven't emptied their bladder.

All of the ICD codes mentioned above used for urinary retention are billable.

When one's bladder doesn't empty, it's called urinary retention. Those with a penis are more likely to have this problem, but those with a vagina may also experience urinary retention.
There are two types of urinary retention: acute and chronic, each with its own symptoms. Symptoms of those with acute urinary retention are the feeling of urinating badly, but no urine follows through. This can result in pain and discomfort in one's lower abdomen. Symptoms of chronic urinary retention, on the other hand, are having trouble urinating, constantly having the urge to go again even after one urinates, urinating more than 8 times a day, regularly urinating a few times during the night, bladder leakage, and trouble starting/continuing urination.
Causes of urinary retention are obstruction, certain medications, nerve problems, surgery, infection, inflammation, and trauma.
Aside from an interview of the symptom history and physical exam, the patient may be asked to undergo further tests such as blood tests, urine tests, cystoscopy, CT scans, electromyography, and ultrasounds to diagnose urinary retention.
Treatment depends on the type of urinary retention. For acute urinary retention, treatments include a catheter insertion. On the other hand, for chronic urinary retention, treatments may be inserting a catheter/stent, dilation of the urethra, medication, surgery, and lifestyle changes.

Once you’ve determined the cause of the patient’s urinary retention, you can use a urinary retention ICD code.

Yes, the specific codes for urinary retention are billable. However, some codes may not be used as the principal diagnosis.

Common treatments include inserting a catheter or stent, urethral dilation, surgery, medication, and lifestyle changes.

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