UTI in men

What is a urinary tract infection?

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that affects any part of your urinary system (kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra).

There are 2 types of UTI:

-Upper tract: in the ureters or kidneys.

-Lower tract: in the bladder, urethra, or prostate in men.

Most urinary tract infections (UTIs) affect the bladder and the urethra, which is the tube that drains urine from the bladder to outside the body.

Urinary tract infections are more common in women.

Urinary Tract Infections in Men

UTI in men is more complicated and can affect the kidneys and the upper urinary tract, and leads to a severe case that will require surgery.

 Symptoms:

-Pain when you urinate.

-Frequent need to urinate.

-Difficulty to start urinating.

-A slow urine stream or urinary incontinence.

-A sudden need to urinate.

-Blood in the urine.

-Pain in the lower part of the abdomen, in the upper back, and below your stomach.

-Cloudy and bad-smelling urine.

In a severe UTI, a man can have these symptoms: fever, nausea, vomiting, and chills (when the infection affects the upper urinary tract).

Causes

Most UTIs in men are caused by a bacteria called Escherichia coli which already exists in the body; especially in older men after the age of 50.

In younger men, UTI is caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs); Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most two sexually transmitted bacterias.

Follow the link for more information about the causes of UTIs in men.

Risk factors

-Diabetes.

-Kidney stones.

-Prostate problems in older men: BPH, prostatitis.

-An abnormal narrowing of the urethra.

-Dehydration.

-Resist the urge to urinate for too long.

-Not been circumcised.

-A past UTI.

-Anal intercourse.

-Medication that affects the immune system.

-A procedure that used instrumentation on the urinary tract.

UTI Complications

If the lower UTI is not treated, your kidneys can be affected by the infection. If the kidney infection is untreated, the patient can have chronic kidney disease or kidney failure; and this infection can lead to sepsis.

Can urinary tract infections cause infertility in males?

Some urine infections can cause infertility in men:

Chlamydia

This is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacterial infection. The symptoms include urination burn, enlarged testicles, and discharges from the penis. When this infection is not treated, it can cause infertility in men by blocking the production of sperm.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is another STI that can cause infertility in men. The symptoms include green, yellow, or white secretions from the penis, dysuria, burn on the penis, pain in the enlarged testicles. It can lead to an infection of the prostate gland, and the diminution of the quality and the production of the sperm.

Mycoplasma

Mycoplasma (STI) can decrease the motility of sperm cells; which can lead to infertility.

Follow the link for more information about urinary tract infections in men.