8 symptoms of urinary tract infections in men (and how to treat them)

The main symptoms of urinary tract infections in men are frequent urge to urinate, cloudy and strong-smelling urine, blood in the urine, in some cases, pain and burning when urinating and low-grade fever.

Despite being more common in women, urinary tract infections can also affect men, especially after the age of 50, due to conditions, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, which make it difficult for urine to pass out and facilitate the development of bacteria and other microorganisms. Find out more about urinary tract infections.

In the presence of signs and symptoms of urinary infection, it is important to consult a urologist so that the infection can be confirmed and the best treatment can be initiated, which is normally done with the use of antibiotics.

Watch the following video and learn more about urinary tract infections:

Main symptoms

The main symptoms of urinary tract infections in men are:

1. Frequent urge to urinate;
2. Pain and burning when urinating;
3. Difficulty holding urine;
4. Cloudy and strong-smelling urine;
5. Waking up at night to go to the bathroom;
6. Low fever;
7. Presence of blood in the urine;
8. Pain in the groin area or lower back.

It is also possible that these symptoms may arise due to an STI or change in the prostate and, therefore, the urologist may order several tests to identify the correct cause and initiate the most appropriate treatment.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of male urinary tract infection is made by a urologist or general practitioner based on the evaluation of the signs and symptoms presented by the person and the results of the urine test, which will indicate whether there are signs of infection.

Furthermore, the doctor may recommend a urine culture with an antibiogram to find out which microorganism is responsible for the infection and the best antimicrobial to combat it.

The doctor may also ask questions about your sexual life, to identify risk factors for infections or STIs, in addition to carrying out a digital rectal exam, to check if there is any change in the size of the prostate.

In young men who have signs of an enlarged prostate, the urologist may also recommend tests such as computed tomography, ultrasound and/or cystoscopy, to assess whether there are other problems in the urinary tract.

Read too: Prostate exams: how they are done, age and preparation

Who is most at risk

Some of the factors that can increase a man’s risk of developing a urinary tract infection are:

• Drink few fluids;
• Use a probe to urinate;
• Having an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia;
• Have anal sex;
• Holding back the urge to urinate for a long time and very frequently;
• Having reflux of urine from the bladder to the kidneys;
• Kidney stone;
• Diabetes;
• Changes in the urinary system, such as chronic kidney failure and/or tumors;
• Chronic prostatitis.

Furthermore, men who are not circumcised are also more likely to develop urinary infections, as excess skin on the penis makes cleaning difficult and increases the risk of microorganisms proliferating there.

How the treatment is carried out

The treatment of urinary tract infections in men involves the use of antibiotics for 5 to 7 days, such as amoxicillin, phosphomycin, cephalexin or nitrofurantoin, for example, which must be indicated by the doctor. Furthermore, it is recommended to increase the amount of fluids consumed throughout the day to promote the elimination of microorganisms through urine. See more details on urinary infection treatment.

In general, symptoms improve approximately 1 to 2 days after starting treatment, however it is important to follow the doctor’s instructions to avoid resistance of the microorganism and recurrence.

In more serious cases, longer treatment may be necessary, and the man may need to remain in hospital to receive antibiotics and fluids directly into a vein.