A urinary tract infection is an accumulation of unhealthy bacteria in the urinary system

A urinary tract infection is an infection in any part of the urinary system, caused when harmful bacteria enter and multiply in the urinary tract. UTIs are often thought of as a woman’s health condition. In truth, a urinary tract infection (UTI) can affect men too.

Quick Read:

  • The urinary system is a complex one and includes the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra.
  • Doctors usually prescribe antibiotics to treat UTIs.
  • Completing the full course of antibiotics helps reduce the risk of recurrence.

Understanding the urinary tract system

We all have a urinary system, with various parts, all working together to produce urine and expel it from the body. The urinary system is also responsible for removing waste and excess fluid from the body. It is made up of four main parts: the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

The kidneys filter waste and excess fluid from the blood to produce urine. This urine travels through the ureters to the bladder, where it is stored until it is expelled from the body through the urethra.

A urinary tract infection develops when bacteria enter this system, typically through the urethra. The bacteria begin to multiply, and when the body cannot clear these bacteria effectively, that’s when the infection develops in one or more parts of the urinary tract.

What does a UTI feel like?

A urinary tract infection often affects how you urinate and how your lower abdomen feels. One of the most common early signs is a persistent urge to urinate, even if you pass little urine at a time. As the infection progresses, symptoms can become more uncomfortable and may spread beyond the bladder.

Common symptoms include:

  • Burning or tingling sensation during and after urination
  • Pain after urination
  • Excessive urination at night
  • Pain, burning, or discomfort while peeing or just after
  • Wetting the bed
  • Cloudy or smelly urine
  • Blood in your urine
  • Fever
  • Nausea
  • Pain in your sides or upper back

When a urinary tract infection may be more serious

If the infection spreads beyond the bladder, symptoms can intensify and may include:

  • Fever or chills
  • Nausea or feeling generally unwell
  • Pain in the lower back, side (flank), or upper back

These symptoms may indicate that the urinary tract infection has reached the kidneys and requires immediate medical attention.

Urinary tract infection symptoms

Why do men get urinary tract infections?

A urinary tract infection in men is less common, but it usually points to an underlying issue that affects how urine flows or how the body handles bacteria.

In most cases, bacteria are not the only problem. Another factor is allowing the baceria to stay, multiply, and cause infection. A few factors can come into play.

  • An enlarged prostate gland may cause the neck of the bladder to become restricted. This makes it difficult for urine to flow easily and the bladder doesn’t ever become completely empty. (Which is why you’re constantly peeing, even if you’ve just gone). Unfortunately, this means that bacteria tend to stay behind in the bladder, leading to infections. Prostatitis is the actual infection of the prostate.
  • Some sexually transmitted infections can introduce bacteria into the urinary tract or irritate the urethra, leading to symptoms that overlap with a urinary tract infection, such as pain during urination and frequent urgency.
  • Kidney stones can block the urinary tract, trapping bacteria and making it easier for an infection to develop. The blockage prevents urine from fully emptying, creating exactly the environment that bacteria love.
  • Diabetics, often due to a weaker immune system and more glucose in the urine, are also vulnerable to UTIs.

What these causes have in common

Most urinary tract infections in men come down to one of three mechanisms:

  1. Obstruction: something blocks or slows urine flow.
  2. Retention: the bladder does not fully empty.
  3. Reduced defense: the immune system cannot clear bacteria efficiently.

When one or more of these are present, the risk of a urinary tract infection increases significantly.

Help at hand

Please don’t ignore these symptoms, especially if you’ve had a sexually transmitted disease or have a medical condition like diabetes. Without treatment, UTIs can cause detrimental problems in your kidneys and lead to renal disease or even kidney failure.

The good news is that a UTI is usually treated with antibiotics. Your doctor will prescribe a course after a urine test and the UTI normally clears up after five to seven days. In the meantime, you can certainly do a lot to minimise your chances of a urinary tract infection.

  1. No coffee, tea, and alcohol before bedtime. Stop having these liquids at least a few hours before you go to sleep.
  2. If you have a medical condition, take your medication consistently.
  3. Get your weight under control if you’re seriously overweight.
  4. Wear a condom during sex to protect yourself against STDs and reduce your chances of getting a UTI.
  5. Stay up-to-date with prostate exams. Prostate issues can be treated to reduce your health risks.
  6. Drink plenty of water as soon as you notice symptoms, and keep urinating as you need.
  7. Monitor your temperature. A severe UTI can bring on a fever, which is usually a sign of a more serious infection.
  8. If you suspect you have a UTI, please don’t have sex and risk passing on the bacteria, until you see a doctor.
  9. When showering or bathing, refrain from using heavily fragranced soaps and body washes.
  10. Cranberry juice may help to manage some of the milder symptoms of a UTI until you can see a doctor.

Images: Freepik

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