UTI in Men: Everything You Need To Know

In this article, we’ll discuss everything you might want to know about UTI in men.

Overview

As the name rightly suggests, urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the urinary tract. This infection is caused by bacteria that enters the urinary tract. While most of the bacteria that enter your urinary tract gets out too when you urinate, these bacteria remain in the tract.

This is what results in the infection of the urinary tract. The urinary tract includes kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. The infection of the urinary tract usually affects the lower urinary tract. This includes the bladder and the urethra. Understanding the risk factors for this condition can help to prevent it. Here we have shared much information regarding UTI in men. Get informed as you read along.

Urinary Tract Infection: Risk Factors

Understanding the risk factors for this condition can help to reduce the chances of its occurrence. In men, some of the common risk factors for urinary tract infection are as listed below:

• Obesity or diabetes are conditions that can make a person more prone to UTI
• Individuals who have history of urinary tract problems such as kidney stone, narrowing kidney and not being able to empty the bladder more prone to it
• Men who are not circumcised are more prone
• Incontinence or the inability to control the urge to urinate could be another contributing factor
• Men who age are more vulnerable to UTI

Consult your doctor if you have any of these risk factors.

Symptoms Of UTI

Symptoms of UTI help you understand when you are suffering from the condition. Here are some of the common symptoms of UTI in men:

• If you observe blood in your urine, it could be an indicator of UTI
• If you encounter a burning sensation or pain while urinating, it could indicate the disease
• Individuals who urinate too often or wake up from sleep to urinate could be suffering from it
• Individuals experiencing lower abdomen pain or lower back pain could be suffering from UTI

These symptoms could help you identify when it is time to consult a doctor. Timely care can help you get rid of the condition.

Severe Symptoms Of UTI

A person suffering from UTI may require instant help if he shows any of the following symptoms:

• If the person rarely urinates, it could be dangerous.
• If a person suffers from shaking chills and high fever, call the doctor immediately.
• You must also contact a doctor immediately if you have a back pain or side pain that gets worse with time.

UTI: Diagnosis And Treatment

Consult a doctor. Tell him the symptoms you are encountering. He may then ask a few questions. The answers to these questions need to be honest. It will help the doctor come to a proper consensus regarding your health. Once he shortlists the possible conditions and comes down to UTI, he may tell you to conduct a few tests.

The doctor may evaluate by pressing back, sides or your abdomen to check whether you experience pain. The doctor may suggest a urine test to be done to check whether there is bacteria in your urine. These tests help to confirm the possibility of urinary tract infection. It also helps to decide the right action to take to deal with the issue.

The doctors may prescribe medicines (antibiotics) to kill the bacteria. The antibiotics may turn your urine orange or red. The doctors may also prescribe certain medicines to reduce the pain while you urinate. The condition can be treated. However, you may have to take proper care to avoid recurrence of the health condition.

Simple Tips To Prevent UTI

Leading a healthy lifestyle can reduce risk factors for UTI. There are many ways you can prevent UTI from occurring. Here we have listed out our top tips for eliminating the possibility of UTI:

• Drink Lots of Water: Drinking lots of water can help to reduce the chance of UTI. You may have to increase the regular intake of liquids. The doctor may also suggest you to avoid citrus liquids, alcohol and caffeine. These are substances capable of irritating the bladder. This may sometimes worsen the condition.
• Urinate when You Feel the Urge: It is not good to hold on when you have the urge to urinate. You must urinate whenever you have the urge to. This will help to flush out the bacteria from the body. It will also prevent the infection from spreading.
• Do Pelvic Muscle Exercises: Pelvic muscle exercises make the pelvis stronger. It helps you control and urinate as per your need. Doctors suggest these exercises to gain control on urination. Do these exercises regularly and it will help.
• Urinate After You Have Sex: If you urinate after having sex, the bacteria transferred during the intercourse will get washed away. It will prevent your partner from giving the infection to you.

Home Remedies For UTI

Men can also some other precautions to reduce the chance of UTI occurrence or recurrence. Here we have listed out these measures:

• Use condoms during intercourse to reduce the chance of UTI and STDs
• Urinate after intercourse to wash away the bacteria transferred during the intercourse
• Drinking lots of water always helps to prevent the occurrence of UTIs
• Make sure you clean from front to back thoroughly after toileting
• It is also a great habit to cleaning the private parts thoroughly before and after you have intercourse
• Men should also clean the area under the foreskin in case they have not circumcised
• Avoid alcohol and use of tobacco as these increase the risk of UTI

Hygiene habits can help you stay healthy. Proper precautions can be taken only when you know the right measures. Information shared in this post hopes to enlighten the readers regarding the various measures one needs to take. It is also important that you maintain transparency with your doctor so that he can provide the right guidance. You need to reveal all facts regarding your health. Do not take any health decisions without consulting your doctor.