UTIs, or urinary tract infections, can occur in both men and women. An infection can occur in any part of the urinary tract which includes the bladder, the kidneys, and the tubes that connect them, the ureters. Normally, urine is sterile, but when bacteria enter the urinary tract, it can cause an infection.
The most common kind of urinary tract infection is a bladder infection. These are much more common among women and are usually easily treated. If bladder infections go untreated, there is a risk of developing an infection of the kidneys called pyelonephritis which is more serious than a bladder infection.
Because the anatomy is so different between men and women, we will break this down into male and female risk factors, causes, symptoms, and treatments.
Urinary Tract Infections in Men
While men are less likely to get urinary tract infections, that doesn’t mean that they don’t occur. Learning the symptoms and causes can help you avoid this unpleasant situation.
UTI Risk Factors for Men
Certain factors will put you at risk for UTIs including the following:
- Being uncircumcised
- Enlarged prostate
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Obesity
- Voiding dysfunction (obstruction or neurological)
- Not moving for long periods of time
- Diabetes
- Kidney stones
- Fecal incontinence (loss of bowel control)
- Recent urinary tract surgery (catheters and procedures may introduce bacteria)
- Engaging in anal intercourse (exposes the urethra to more bacteria)
Causes of UTIs in Men
UTIs in men are more common as they age. One reason is that older men are more likely to develop benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or enlargement of their prostate gland. This enlargement is noncancerous but very common in older men. An enlarged prostate gland can choke off the bladder neck or urethra, making it harder for urine to flow. If the bladder doesn’t empty completely, bacteria that normally get flushed out with the urine may remain in the bladder and can increase over time.
Symptoms of UTIs in Men
The symptoms of a bladder infection tend to come on suddenly and may include:
- Pain/burning sensation during urination
- The need to urinate frequently
- Urinary urgency (sudden urge to empty your bladder)
- Pain in central lower abdomen, just above the pubic bone
- Blood in urine
A UTI that involves the kidneys may include the following as well:
- Fever and chills
- Nausea/vomiting
- Pain in your sides or back that doesn’t change when you change position
UTI Prevention Tips for Men
Here are some tips to follow to help keep you from getting a UTI in the first place:
- Drink lots of water to help flush the bacteria out of the urinary tract
- Urinate when you have to – don’t hold your urine
- Empty your bladder completely when urinating
- Keep your penis clean (if you are uncircumcised, clean the foreskin often so bacteria doesn’t get trapped and enter the urinary tract)
- Urinate before you go to sleep
Urinary Tract Infections in Women
UTIs are significantly more common in women than in men. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, women get UTIs up to 30 times more often than men. This is due to a combination of factors including anatomical differences, hormonal changes, and stages of a woman’s reproductive life cycle. Here are some of the reasons for the prevalence of female cases:
- The female urethra is shorter (bacteria don’t have to travel as far to reach the bladder)
- This vaginal skin is thinner and more sensitive (easier to irritate)
- Urethra is located close to the rectum which carries waste and bacteria (#1 one cause of bladder infections is E. coli)
- Sexual contact can allow bacteria near the vagina to get into the urethra.
- Pregnant women are also more prone to getting UTIs. Contraception (spermicide may cause irritation and diaphragms push against the urethra making it more difficult to completely empty the bladder)
- Menopause (as estrogen levels drop, vaginal tissue becomes thinner and more prone to infection)
UTI Risk Factors for Women
Knowing the risk factors can help you avoid UTIs in the future. Here are some factors to consider:
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Sexual activity (usually from contamination of vaginal bacteria)
- Low estrogen can lead to bacteria in the vagina
- Menopause – low estrogen
- Use of feminine hygiene products containing deodorants that cause irritation
- Poor bladder emptying due to obstruction or neurologic causes
- Fecal incontinence (loss of bowel control)
- Recent urinary tract surgery (catheters and procedures may introduce bacteria)
- Kidney stones or structural problems with the urinary tract
UTI Symptoms for Women
The symptoms of a bladder infection tend to come on suddenly and may include:
- Burning with urination
- Frequent urination
- Sudden urge to urinate
- Sensation of incomplete emptying
- Blood in the urine
- Foul-smelling urine
A UTI that involves the kidneys may include the following as well:
- Fever and chills
- Nausea/vomiting
- Pain in your sides or back that doesn’t change when you change position
UTI Prevention Tips for Women
Even when practicing good hygiene, women are simply more susceptible to bladder infections than men. Here are some tips you can follow to help prevent UTIs:
- Always wipe front to back and try blotting instead of wiping
- Rinse off in the shower after a bath to prevent irritation and subsequent infections
- Avoid douching and using feminine hygiene products
- Urinate after sex to help flush bacteria away from the urethra
- Wash in the front and back daily with soap and water
- Increase water intake to flush out bacteria
- Don’t put off urination or “hold it”
- Fully empty your bladder when you urinate
- Use probiotics to improve intestinal bacteria
- Avoid excessive use of antibiotics when you have no UTI symptoms
- Avoid anal intercourse
- Weight loss
- Good control of diabetes
Diagnosing Urinary Tract Infections
A UTI may be indicated by an office urinalysis, but to confirm infection, a urine culture done in the laboratory is necessary. This usually requires a clean-catch urine sample incubated in a culture dish for 48 hours.
If you are experiencing complicated or recurrent UTIs, upper urinary tract imaging and cystoscopy may be needed. We can find and treat urinary abnormalities, such as urinary stones, obstructions, or structural alterations.