Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

Males can get urinary tract infections, and they are typically classified as complicated infections. Symptoms may include urgency, frequency, and burning when you urinate.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur when bacteria, often from the rectum or skin, enter and overgrow in the bladder, kidneys, or the tubes that drain urine from the kidneys to the bladder.

Most UTIs can be cured easily with antibiotic drugs.

Language matters

In this article, we use “male and female” to refer to someone’s sex as determined by their chromosomes, and “men and women” when referring to their gender (unless quoting from sources using nonspecific language).

People often use the terms sex and gender interchangeably, but they have different meanings:

• “Sex” refers to the physical characteristics that differentiate male, female, and intersex bodies.
• “Gender” refers to a person’s identity and how they feel inside. Examples include man, woman, nonbinary, agender, bigender, genderfluid, pangender, and trans. A person’s gender identity may be different from the sex they were assigned at birth.

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Females are 30 times more likely to get UTIs than males, according to the Office of Women’s Health (OASH). This is due to anatomy. People with vaginas typically have shorter urethras. This means the bacteria need to travel less distance to reach the bladder.

UTIs in males are more common with older age. One reason is that older males are more likely to develop noncancerous enlargement of their prostate gland, called benign prostatic hyperplasia. The prostate wraps around the neck of the bladder, where the urethra connects to the bladder. Enlargement of the prostate gland can compress the bladder neck, making it harder for urine to flow freely. If the bladder does not empty completely, bacteria that are normally flushed out with the urine can gain a foothold.

The symptoms of a bladder infection include:

• painful urination and a burning sensation
• needing to urinate frequently
• sudden urge to empty your bladder, called urinary urgency
• pain in your central lower abdomen, just above the pubic bone
• blood in your urine

Certain symptoms in addition to those of a UTI could mean you have a prostate infection (prostatitis). These can include:

• fever
• chills
• fatigue
• difficulty urinating or “dribbling”
• pain in your pelvis

Most UTIs are caused by the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli), which is naturally present in your body. The bacteria gets into the urinary tract through the urethra. The urethra is the tube that drains urine from your bladder through your penis.

Factors that can put you at greater risk for UTIs may include the following:

• a previous UTI
• long-term use of a urinary catheter
• being immobile for long periods
• not drinking enough fluids
• recent urinary tract or kidney surgery
• urinary tract blockages like kidney stones or an enlarged prostate
• diabetes
• being uncircumcised
• fecal incontinence
• engaging in anal intercourse, which can expose the urethra to more bacteria

To diagnose a UTI, a doctor will examine you and ask about symptoms, including any past history of UTIs. You will likely be asked to provide a urine sample to check for bacteria and white blood cells, which indicate that your body is fighting an infection.

Sometimes the doctor will perform a urine culture to get more information about the bacteria causing the infection. If you have had a UTI before, a doctor might also perform an ultrasound to check for abnormalities in your urinary tract.

UTIs are categorized into two categories, uncomplicated and complicated. An uncomplicated UTI affects the lower urinary tract and is also known as cystitis or a bladder infection. An uncomplicated UTI is treated with antibiotics, and people typically recover within 3 days to 6 weeks.

Anytime a person with a penis has a UTI it is considered complicated.

UTIs are considered complicated if they affect certain groups. This can include:

• people who have a penis
• pregnant people
• people who are immunocompromised
• older adults
• people who use catheters
• people who experience recurring UTIs

If you think you have a UTI, it’s best to make an appointment with a doctor. They will typically make a diagnosis you based on your urine sample. You also may have to get an ultrasound to check for any abnormalities in your urinary system.

If you have a UTI, you will likely need to take antibiotic medications. Depending on the type of antibiotic a doctor prescribes, you may take the medication for 10 to 14 days.

It’s also important to drink adequate fluids. You may be tempted to reduce your fluid intake if urinating is uncomfortable. But urinating can help flush the bacteria from your system. It important to stay hydrated if you have a UTI, including while taking antibiotics.

Many people drink cranberry juice when they have a UTI in hopes of clearing the infection. Lab experiments with mice showed that several substances in cranberry juice lowered the bacteria count in the bladder. This suggests that there may be some benefits to drinking cranberry juice for humans with UTIs. However, there is no strong evidence that drinking cranberry juice while you have a UTI eliminates the infection or speeds recovery.

Recovery

After starting antibiotics, you should feel noticeably better within 24 to 48 hours. If your symptoms don’t clear up after taking antibiotics, talk with a doctor.

It’s important to finish all antibiotics prescribed, even if you’re feeling better. Stopping your antibiotics prematurely can encourage the growth of bacteria resistant to common antibiotics. In effect, less than the full course of treatment kills off the “weak” bacteria, leaving them stronger and more resistant strains.

People with prostates may need to take a longer course antibiotics in case the infection has reached the prostate, according to the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

If you think you have a UTI, you should seek medical attention right away. If left untreated, a UTI can spread from your lower to the upper urinary tract and cause a kidney infection like pyelonephritis.

Symptoms of a UTI that involves the kidneys can include:

• pain in your sides or back that doesn’t change when you change position
• fever and chills
• nausea and vomiting
• a burning sensation when you urinate

If you have a kidney infection and can take medication by mouth, a doctor will prescribe antibiotics. Some people, such as children or those with other health concerns or complications, may have to stay in the hospital for treatment.

If pyelonephritis or an upper urinary tract infection is left untreated, it can lead to sepsis. Sepsis is a life threatening condition.

Symptoms of sepsis can include:

• irregular or fast heart rate
• sudden changes in body temperature
• change in mental status
• fever and chills
• difficulty breathing

Sepsis can be caused by an infection in the urinary tract. Treatment for sepsis includes hospitalization, antibiotics, and fluids.

Emergency situation

Sepsis is a life threatening infection. If you believe you or someone else may have sepsis, seek immediate emergency medical attention or call your local emergency services.

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To prevent UTIs, the most important thing is to reduce the chance of bacteria invading your urinary tract. Steps you can take to prevent UTIs may include:

• Urinate when you feel the need. Don’t “hold it in.”
• Drink adequate fluids. For most people, that means drinking when thirsty and drinking during meals. When it’s hot and you’re active in hot weather, drink a little extra water.
• Keep your genital area clean and dry.

UTIs are less common in people with penises but have similar causes and treatment. Taking antibiotic medications usually clears the infection. If you have prolonged UTIs or UTIs that come back frequently, you may need to be evaluated by a doctor for conditions like a prostate gland infection.

The following are frequently asked questions about UTIs.

How can you tell the difference between a UTI and bladder infection?

Bladder infections are a type of UTI that involves the lower urinary tract, including the bladder. A bladder infection can spread to other parts of your urinary tract or kidneys if left untreated. The symptoms of bladder infections and UTIs can be similar. See a doctor if you are experiencing symptoms of a UTI, such as painful or frequent urination, pain in your central lower abdomen, or blood in your urine.

Is it possible to treat a UTI at home without the use of antibiotics?

Most UTIs require treatment with antibiotics. When certain groups of people, including people with a penis, have a UTI, the infection is usually considered to be complicated. Delaying treatment of complicated UTIs can lead to complications, such as a kidney infection or sepsis. If you are experiencing symptoms of a UTI, visit a doctor or healthcare professional and have a urine test performed.

UTIs occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract system. They are more common in females than in males. However, males who are older in age, have diabetes, are immunocompromised, or use a catheter may have a higher risk of developing a UTI.

If you are experiencing symptoms and think you have a UTI, visit a doctor for treatment.

UTIs in men? It happens. Here are 10 things to know

Editor’s note: Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt is a urologist and robotic surgeon with Orlando Health and president of the Florida Urological Society.

CNN
 — 

“Wait … can men really get urinary infections? Is this fake news?”

This was one of the messages I received over the past 24 hours.

Yes, men can get urinary tract infections. Not fake news.

All of this interest was sparked by news this week that President Bill Clinton has been hospitalized for treatment for a urinary tract infection that spread to his bloodstream.

I first heard the news when I was in a room with a new male patient who recently had two back-to-back urinary tract infections. This patient is one of hundreds I may see in a year as a urologist. They’re sent to me to help figure out why these infections are occurring and how to prevent the next one.

To quench the curiosity driven by the recent news, here’s what I’d like you to know about UTIs.

UTI is short for urinary tract infection. It’s an infection of the organs in your body – I call them pipes – that are meant to funnel your urine out of your system and into the urinal. Most UTIs are caused by bacteria that work their way into the urethra, prostate, bladder or kidneys.

Way more women than men are diagnosed with UTIs. Anatomically, we feel this happens because women have a shorter urethra – the tube that connects the bladder to the outside world. The shorter length makes it easier for bacteria to travel to the urinary system. Men have longer urethras and therefore can be protected against urinary infections.

But the length of the urethra alone cannot protect men against UTIs – over their lifetimes, 12% of men will get urinary symptoms linked to a UTI. This by no means implies a urethra or penis are short or small. In men, there is usually a more clear pathologic cause to the infection beyond just the length of the urethra.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 26: Former U.S. President Bill Clinton attends The George H.W. Bush Points Of Light Awards Gala at Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum on September 26, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Former President Bill Clinton hospitalized for infection but ‘on the mend’

There are many reasons why a guy may get a UTI – all of them we take seriously and should not be ignored.

Men older than 50 tend to get more infections than younger men. As a urologist, I see men get recurrent infections when they do not properly empty their bladder because of an enlarged prostate. Beyond the prostate, men may not empty their bladder if they have nerve damage from stroke, uncontrolled diabetes or injury to the spine. Men can also get infections that start from the prostate or testicles that seed up into the bladder, or the opposite can happen where the infection goes from the bladder to the other organs. Kidney stones can also be a cause of infection. (I know this from personal experience – I’ve had a kidney stone myself!)

Younger men may also present with urinary infections because of sexually transmitted diseases. Men can also get an infection if they have a recent procedure done in the urinary system.

Burning with urination (dysuria), increased urinary frequency, urgency, incontinence, foul smell, blood in the urine, fevers, chills, pain in the abdomen near the bladder. Believe it or not, some men may have zero symptoms and still get diagnosed with a UTI based on urine cultures done for other purposes.

UTI is diagnosed by sending your urine off for a culture. This is when a sample of your urine is processed and evaluated for various strains of bacteria. The most common bacteria identified in urinary tract infections is E.coli. Once the culture is done, the results can guide treatment, which is usually oral antibiotics. There is a test called a urine analysis which can be done quickly in our office which can suggest an infection. However, the best test is an actual culture.

Doctors do not wait for the culture results – which can take one to three days – to start treatment. If an infection is suspected, an antibiotic will be started immediately and then adjusted based on the culture results.

Shutterstock

Doctors treat female UTIs with wrong antibiotics nearly half the time, study finds

UTIs generally are treated with oral or IV antibiotics. Most infections can be treated with oral antibiotics. However there are superbugs that may be resistant to what we can give you by mouth that may require the use of stronger antibiotics through an IV. Most treatments last seven to 10 days, but can be longer.

In severe cases of infection that has spread to the bloodstream, strong IV antibiotics are started immediately to control the infection. Patients are placed in the hospital to start these strong treatments. You do not have to stay in the hospital for weeks if you have infection in your bloodstream. As long as you are doing well – no fever, normal labs, heart and pulse OK – then you may continue these IV treatments from home. Each treatment is tailored to your condition.

As a doctor, my answer is: No. Men should not try to treat infections on their own. If you have symptoms, get yourself to a doctor or emergency room.

The best prevention is making sure first there is nothing anatomical that needs to be corrected, such as an enlarged prostate, kidney stone or blockage.

Proper hygiene can help prevent infections. Men with uncircumcised penises should make sure they can retract the foreskin and clean under the foreskin and the glans properly. Cranberry supplements have been shown to help prevent infections. Staying hydrated by drinking enough fluids/water during the day can also help. Making sure you don’t hold your urine can help, too. Staying in good health to avoid chronic medical conditions such as diabetes and heart disease will also protect against infections.

Recurrent, untreated infections could cause strictures, or tight scars, in your urethra that would slow your stream and make it difficult to empty your bladder. Infections could also cause the bladder to lose its ability to fill and empty properly. In the long run, if you are getting constantly treated with antibiotics, we may run out of antibiotics to give you due to resistance.

The first priority is to clear the infection with antibiotics.

From there, we do a full workup with a detailed history, evaluation of chronic medical problems and exam of the genitals to look for anatomic issues such as a foreskin that won’t retract back. Imaging may include a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis to look for kidney stones, blocked tubes and other abnormalities.

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If you see a urologist, you will likely get a cystoscopy, where we place a camera inside of a small tube into the urethra to look at the inside of your urine channel. The cystoscopy helps look for strictures, large obstructing prostates and changes to the bladder walls. Once a cause is found, it’s aggressively treated with either medication or surgery.

“Oooh, my daddy’s everything”: a model from Nigeria and a blue-eyed blond from Yakutia have a son

Komsomolskaya Pravda

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December 7, 2020 14:57

Baby was born on November 24 [photo, video]

Dmitry Rut became parents Photo: social networks

Many people know about this unusual couple. On social networks, they were dubbed “marshmallows in chocolate.” She is an amazingly beautiful black girl, he is a blue-eyed blond. In 2018, Dmitry Makrygin and Ruth Tette got married in the registry office of Yakutsk. And so they had a son. Firstborn in mom or dad? Most often they are now asked about this. Parents are in no hurry to answer this question. Only sometimes on her page on the social network, a young mother uploads a photo where she hugs her baby.

Chance acquaintance

How could Dmitry Makrygin, a businessman from Yakutia, son of a military man, freelance photographer, musician, fisherman, hunter, have thought that his trip to the northern capital would be fateful. While walking in the park, he saw an amazingly beautiful girl. Many can envy her appearance and figure.

Beautiful couple Photo: social networks

He started taking pictures of her. Ruth, a graduate economist and a model who grew up in a large African family, was at first taken aback by such impudence. But having heard his pure English (a rarity for Russian guys) and accepting his apologies, she allowed me to take a couple more shots. Their romantic relationship began. For two years they lived in two cities – he is in Yakutsk, she is in St. Petersburg. Neither one nor the other had the opportunity to change something. They lived in rare meetings and every day they “met” at the screen of their mobile phones.

Wedding Photo: social networks

At some point, Dima decided that he had had enough. Secretly, he flew to his beloved. Persuaded a friend to bring her to a cafe. He himself dressed as a bear and in this form proposed to her. Right on the street – he got down on one knee and held out the ring. Since then, they have not parted.

We are expecting a baby

They got married in 2018. And in 2020, they found out that they would become parents.

– We will have a son soon, in November, – Dmitry admitted. – I found out about it in early April. I arrived from a business trip at 5 am, and Rusya shows me the test. What are two stripes, I know and immediately understood everything. He shouted: “I knew it!”. He jumped up to the ceiling, ran to the balcony. Just uncontrollable emotions. For my parents, this will be the seventh grandchild. It is highly likely that the baby will be light. I myself am fair, and in Ruth’s family all fair mulattos. She herself is an exception. Well, maybe a coffee baby will work out. Actually, I wanted a girl. But the son is a continuation of the clan, the surname. And then let there be daughters.

Waiting for a miracle Photo: social networks

Both of them are active users of social networks. They run their Instagram pages. But at some point they disappeared. It was an exciting time, too personal. Ruth wrote her first post at 37 weeks pregnant.

“The emergency case is packed. Pregnancy is wonderful, we are almost at the end of the road. We are waiting, we will not wait for our precious treasure. We are enjoying the last days of pregnancy, our baby will be born very soon, in fact, at any moment.

Dima and Ruth made percentage calculations Photo: social networks

Dima and Ruth once asked themselves the question: what nationality blood will be present in their son? And even made calculations in percentage terms. Here’s what happened:

Russian – 50%

Ghanaian – 25%

Nigerian – 12.5% ​​

British – 12.5% ​​

Mister son!

November 24th. In the evening, Ruth gave birth to a son.

Ruth in the hospital Photo: social networks

“The first night in the hospital with the baby was magical. I couldn’t close my eyes or look away from him for a minute. I just looked at him my night. I immediately became obsessed with him. Yesterday he began to try to communicate, something like “aha”. Very smart, but what strikes me the most is his strength. So small and so cheeky.”

Every day Dmitry came to the maternity hospital. Ruth waved to him through the window, and once showed her son. And he took a picture. Just like in The Lion King.

Like in the cartoon “The Lion King” Photo: social networks

Relatives and friends also arranged a surprise. They all arrived in a crowd under the windows of the maternity hospital and celebrated the birth of the baby – loudly and with champagne.

Long-awaited discharge!

“Daddy is coming,” the nurse says, handing over to Dmitry a bundle in which the baby snore.

He sees his son for the first time. Smiling proudly.

Dmitry meets his wife and son

social networks

Ruth is hugged by her husband’s sisters: “Hello! Congratulations!”

“Get in the car, otherwise it will freeze,” Grandma orders.

– Today I took my son home, – said Dmitry. – I saw him for the first time. Until that moment, I refused to watch photos and videos with him that Rusi did in the maternity hospital, because I really wanted to get to know him personally. He is just a magical child.

Big family Photo: social networks

Who would have thought that he would make such a loving and restless dad. But Ruth declassified it.

“Being a mother is probably the best feeling in the world. By the way, about “shaking over a child”, you should have seen his daddy, who does not have a soul in him and guards every hair on his head and also constantly teaches me how to hold a child correctly, what and how to do and what not to do ” .

Ruth congratulated everyone on Mother’s Day Photo: social networks

“You are so similar, beautiful and harmonious,” they write to young parents. But who does their son look like? On Mother’s Day, Ruth posted a touching photo with her son. Dark hair, swarthy hand. And then suddenly another photo – the palms of the father and the heels of the crumbs – light. The intrigue is revealed by the third picture, which already shows the baby better. Eeeee, the reaction of subscribers:

Love, she is so Photo: social networks

“The son turned out so white, there is nothing from his mother’s skin color.”

“Oh my, my daddy’s all”.

Ruth and Dimitri have not yet spoken about their son’s name.

My little son turned out white Photo: social networks

READ ALSO

“Black Panther” from Nigeria and blue-eyed blond from Yakutia – this couple, popular in social networks, dubbed “marshmallows in chocolate” – they look too unusual together. Dmitry is a businessman from Yakutia, owns a garage cooperative and is engaged in real estate, the son of a military man, a freelance photographer, musician, fisherman, hunter. Ruth is a graduate economist, a model who grew up in a large African family. How did fate connect people from different parts of the world? An unusual love story was recognized by Komsomolskaya Pravda (more).

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