UTI in Men: An Overview
UTI
Urinary tract infections can affect men (UTIs). Because UTIs are more common in women, men are often unaware that they can contract them as well. Males with UTIs have urinating pain as well as other symptoms. A urinalysis (U/A), commonly known as a urine test, is frequently used to diagnose these infections.
Males are more likely to have UTIs if they have certain medical disorders, such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and prostate illness. Antibiotics and evaluation and control of risk factors are usually included in UTI treatment.
Symptoms
In males, UTIs can induce a range of symptoms. These infections might sometimes go unnoticed in the early stages but have evident consequences as they progress.
Males may get any of the following UTI symptoms:
- Incontinence (pain or burning when urinating)
- A persistent sensation of pressure near the bladder (the centre of the lower abdomen)
- Urinary retention
- Urinary incontinence (feeling of an immediate need to relieve yourself)
- Urinary frequency is increased, usually with tiny volumes of urine.
- Insomnia (waking up to urinate at night)
- Urine is cloudy.
- Penis discharge that is milky
- Urine that stinks
- Urinary bladder pain
- Urinary incontinence (blood in the urine)
- Irritability (loss of bladder control)
- Pain in the flanks (pain affecting the kidneys, on the lower back sides of the body)
Any of these symptoms can appear. The symptoms of a UTI might come and go for weeks in some men before suddenly worsening.
Complications
UTIs can cause serious health concerns if left untreated. Problems are more likely to occur if your immune system is weak.
The following are some of the most serious side effects of a UTI in men:
- A kidney ailment known as pyelonephritis.
- Sepsis is a life-threatening, systemic, whole-body infection.
UTI Causes
UTIs can strike men of any age for a variety of causes, although they are more common in older men. Bacteria are the most common cause of these diseases, but viruses can also cause them.
UTIs are linked to a number of risk factors, including:
- STIs
- Urethral stenosis (blockage of the urethra)
- Earlier UTIs
- Type 2 diabetes (too much sugar in the blood)
- Immune system dysfunction
- Having a urinary catheter in place for a long time
- Prostatic hypertrophy
- Urinary tract deformity (congenital)
- Urinary tract cancer (UTC)
Non Specific urethritis is a term used to describe urethritis that occurs for no apparent reason (NSU).
The kidneys, the ureter (which links the kidneys to the bladder), the bladder, and the urethra can all be affected by these illnesses (tube through which urine leaves the body through the penis).
Urinary urethritis is an inflammation of the urethra. Because the urethra is an entryway through which infectious organisms can enter the body, it is the most prevalent type of UTI.
UTIs in young guys may be caused by a congenital abnormality of the urinary tract.
Males between the ages of 20 and 35 have a minimal risk of acquiring UTIs unless they are caused by a STI. Having several sex partners and without wearing a condom increases the risk of contracting a STI.
Diagnosis
If you have symptoms of a urinary tract infection, your doctor will likely take a thorough medical history and conduct a physical examination.
You may require some tests in addition to your history and physical examination to help with your diagnosis. Bacteria and other indicators of infection are frequently detected by urinalysis. Other diagnostic tests are frequently required to determine whether anatomical abnormalities are to blame for the illness.
Urine Examination
An increased number of white blood cells in the urine can indicate infection. A urine culture can sometimes reveal the type of bacteria that is causing the ailment. A urine culture examines bacterial growth in a lab over several days using a sample of urine.
Red blood cells in the urine can indicate a serious infection or more serious urinary tract disease, necessitating further evaluation by a urologist.
A number of other medical conditions might elicit symptoms that are similar to those of a UTI. Diabetes, for example, can induce urinary frequency and urgency, and a urinalysis can distinguish between diabetes (which causes high glucose levels in the urine) and a urinary tract infection (UTI).
Imaging Exams
Imaging tests, such as a computed tomography (CT) scan or a pelvic ultrasound, may be required. These tests can uncover issues including growths, tumours, or abnormalities that could put you at risk for a UTI.
Procedures for Diagnosis
You may require various diagnostic procedures, depending on your situation, to offer your healthcare physician with more detailed information about your urinary tract anatomy. These procedures are invasive and can be unpleasant. If you're worried about pain, you could need an anaesthetic during the surgery.
A digital rectal examination is a procedure in which your healthcare professional uses a gloved finger to assess the size and form of your prostate. This test, in combination with imaging data, can assist detect prostate enlargement or significant disorders like prostate cancer.
Treatment
Antibiotics are usually required to treat a urinary tract infection. These are antibiotics that are prescribed by a doctor. Oral (by mouth) antibiotics are usually sufficient for the treatment of simple UTIs. Intravenous (IV) antibiotics are generally required for serious problems such as sepsis or pyelonephritis.
Take Away
Male UTIs are uncommon, although they can happen to anyone. If you acquire symptoms of a UTI, you should seek medical help right away because these infections do not go away on their own.
Also, if you have a history of recurrent UTIs, you should talk to your doctor about it so you can get medication to lower your risk.
