BACKGROUND: Acute urinary retention (AUR) is relatively rare in non-pregnant women and is usually associated with lower urinary tract dysfunction, neurological issues, or pelvic organ compression. Adenomyosis is a common gynecologic condition characterized by the invasion of endometrial glands and stroma into the myometrium, often accompanied by symptoms such as dysmenorrhea and heavy menstrual periods. Although adenomyosis is common, its involvement in causing urinary retention is rare but deserves clinical attention.

CASE REPORT: We report the case of a patient with recurrent urinary retention due to adenomyosis, who had a 20-year history of dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia. Imaging revealed significant thickening of the posterior uterine wall and a globular increase in size. Due to the ineffectiveness of conservative treatment, the patient ultimately underwent a total hysterectomy via laparoscopy. After the operation, the patient’s urinary retention symptoms completely disappeared, her urinary function quickly returned to normal, and her postoperative follow-up showed no recurrence of urinary retention or other urinary-related symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS: Although adenomyosis is common in women, acute urinary retention remains rare. This case report suggests that clinicians should consider adenomyosis as a potential cause alongside other common causes of recurrent or unexplained urinary retention in female patients, particularly in those presenting with classic symptoms such as prolonged dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia. The successful treatment of this case further highlights the importance of an individualized treatment plan, as total hysterectomy can effectively relieve symptoms and improve the patient’s quality of life.

Keywords: adenomyosis, Urinary Retention, Hysterectomy