UTIs in Men: 10 Essential Facts You Need to Understand

Even though urinary tract infections are more prevalent in women, males can still contract a UTI. Here are ten things you should know about urinary tract infections, including risk factors and treatment options.

What exactly is a UTI?

UTI is an abbreviation for urinary tract infection. It is an infection of the organs in your body, which I refer to as pipelines, that are designed to transport urine from your system to the urinal. Most urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria that enter the urethra, prostate, bladder, or kidneys.

What distinguishes UTIs in males from those in women?

UTIs affect significantly more women than males. We believe this occurs because women have a shortened urethra – the conduit that connects the bladder to the exterior environment. The shortened length facilitates the spread of pathogens to the urinary system. Due to their lengthier urethras, men are protected against urinary tract infections.

However, urethra length alone cannot protect men from UTIs; 12 percent of men will develop urinary symptoms associated with a UTI during their lifetimes. This in no way implies that the urethra or genitalia are diminutive or short. In men, there is typically a clearer pathologic cause for the infection beyond urethra length.

What makes certain individuals more susceptible to UTIs?

There are numerous reasons why a male may develop a UTI, and none of them should be disregarded.

males over 50 are more susceptible to infection than younger males. As a urologist, I observe men who fail to correctly evacuate their bladder due to an enlarged prostate developing recurrent infections. Men with nerve damage caused by a stroke, uncontrolled diabetes, or injury to the spine may be unable to void their bladders.

Infections can also spread from the prostate or testicles to the bladder in men, or the infection can spread in the opposite direction, from the bladder to the other organs. Infections can also be caused by kidney stones. (I know this from experience; I’ve had a renal stone!)

Additionally, younger males may manifest with urinary tract infections due to sexually transmitted diseases. Men can also contract an infection following a recent urinary system procedure.

What are the symptoms and indications of a UTI?

Burning with urination (dysuria), increased urinary frequency, urgency, incontinence, foul odor, blood in the urine, fevers, shivers, and discomfort in the abdomen close to the bladder are symptoms of a urinary tract infection. Men with no symptoms may be diagnosed with a urinary tract infection (UTI) based on urine cultures performed for other purposes.

How are UTIs identified?

A UTI is diagnosed by submitting urine for culture. This is when a urine sample is processed and evaluated for various bacterial strains. E.coli is the most prevalent bacterium found in urinary tract infections. Once the culture has been performed, the results can direct the treatment, which is typically oral antibiotics. Urine analysis, which can be performed swiftly in our office, can indicate the presence of an infection. Nevertheless, the greatest measure is a real culture.

Doctors do not wait one to three days for the culture results before beginning treatment. If an infection is suspected, an antibiotic will be administered promptly and adjusted based on the results of a culture.

How is a urinary tract infection treated?

UTIs are typically treated with oral or intravenous antibiotics. The majority of infections are treatable with oral antibiotics. However, there are superbugs that may be resistant to the antibiotics we can give you orally, necessitating the use of harsher antibiotics administered intravenously. Most treatments last between seven and ten days, but some can last longer.

In cases of severe infection that has spread to the bloodstream, immediate treatment with potent IV antibiotics is initiated to control the infection. Patients are hospitalized in order to begin these intensive treatments. If you have a bloodstream infection, you are not required to remain in the hospital for weeks. If you are healthy (no fever, normal labs, normal heart rate and pulse), you may continue these IV treatments at home. Each treatment is customized to the patient’s condition.

Are UTIs treatable with home remedies?

As a physician, my response is no. Men should not attempt to treat their own infections. If you have symptoms, visit a doctor or emergency room immediately.

How can these infections be avoided?

Verify that there are no anatomical conditions that need to be corrected, such as an enlarged prostate, kidney stone, or blockage.

Hygiene practices can help prevent infections. Men with uncircumcised penises must ensure that they can retract the foreskin and thoroughly sanitize under the foreskin and the glans. It has been demonstrated that cranberries can help prevent inflammation. Drinking enough fluids/water throughout the day can also be beneficial. Ensuring that you do not contain your urine can also be beneficial. Maintaining a healthy body to prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease will also provide protection against infections.

My infection has cleared up. Exist any long-term consequences for my body?

Repeated, untreated infections may produce strictures, or tight scars, in the urethra, which would impede the flow and make it difficult to empty the bladder. Infections may also impair the bladder’s capacity to properly load and discharge. If you are continuously treated with antibiotics, we may run out of antibiotics to give you in the long term due to resistance.

What should I do after receiving treatment for my first infection?

Priority number one is to treat the infection with antibiotics. From there, we perform a full workup with a detailed history, evaluation of chronic medical problems, and examination of the genitals to check for anatomical problems such as a foreskin that will not retract. A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis may be performed to detect kidney stones, obstructed passages, and other abnormalities.

If you visit a urologist, you will likely undergo a cystoscopy, in which a camera is inserted into a small tube and inserted into the urethra to examine the interior of your urinary channel. The cystoscopy allows for the detection of strictures, large obstructing prostates, and bladder wall changes. Once a cause is identified, it is treated aggressively with medication or surgery.

Source: CNN