UTI in Men: An Introduction
- Kidneys
- Ureters
- Bladder
- Urethra.
The urinary tract organs collect urine, store urine, and release urine from your body. Although
UTIs in men are not as common as UTIs in women, they can be very serious when they occur. Men who get UTIs usually get repeat
urinary tract infections.
A UTI in men is often a result of an obstruction. An obstruction may be a
kidney stone or an
enlarged prostate. A medical procedure involving a catheter can also cause a UTI in men.
Microorganisms called
chlamydia and mycoplasma may also cause a UTI in men and women. However, these infections tend to remain limited to the urethra and reproductive system. Chlamydia and mycoplasma may be sexually transmitted, and they require treatment of both partners.
The first step in treating a man with a URI is to identify the infecting organism and the drugs to which it is sensitive. Doctors usually recommend lengthier therapy in men than in women in order to prevent infections of the prostate gland.
Prostate infections (chronic bacterial
prostatitis) are harder to cure because antibiotics are unable to penetrate infected prostate tissue effectively. For this reason, men with prostatitis often need long-term treatment with a carefully selected antibiotic. UTIs in older men are frequently associated with acute bacterial prostatitis, which can have serious consequences if not treated urgently.
A man with a URI should not take his wife's pills for the infection. Men with URIs should get treatment that fits their specific needs.
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