UTIs in men

 Although Urinary tract infections are the most common in women, also, it is estimated to affect 3% of men worldwide every year. When it comes to males, they tend to ignore the symptoms, but it unquestionably shouldn’t be ignored at all. Men should also care for themselves, pamper themselves well, and enjoy life to the fullest.
Are you also facing issues while urinating and worried that you might have a urinary tract infection? Here’s everything you need to know.

Urinary tract infection is caused by bacteria when they overcome the body’s defenses and enter the urinary tract, affecting kidneys, bladder, and tubes.

It is one of the most common infections, and around 8.1 million of the world’s population suffers through it annually.

Men and UTIs

UTIs are rare in males younger than 50. In men older than 50, it generally happens around the prostate gland, making it enlarged and blocking the urine flow. These infections are typically classified into types based on the areas that they affect, usually the kidney, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
  • Lower tract infections: In this condition, the bacteria enters from the skin into the urethra and then to the bladder, infecting and contaminating the lower urinary tract and causing intestinal infections.
  • Upper tract infections: It could have happened due to two possibilities. Either the bacteria got carried into the bloodstream and collected in the kidneys, or it traveled upwards through the bladder and reached the kidneys, affecting and infecting the kidneys and ureters.

There are different names for specific conditions,
  • A bladder infection is called cystitis.
  • A urethra infection is called urethritis
  • A kidney infection is called pyelonephritis


Why and how?

A UTI develops because the bacteria start to multiply in the urinary tract, men are less prone to it because they have longer urethras and bacteria need to travel a longer distance to reach the bladder; still, people of any age and sex can develop a UTI, some common reasons may include,
  • Sexual intercourse with new or multiple partners
  • Diabetes
  • Lack of intimate hygiene
  • Blockage in the Urinary tract
  • Kidney stones
  • Heavy use of antibiotics


Oops! I caught you

Generally, there are no apparent signs of this infection. However, some of the symptoms may include,
  • Pain during urination and urge to urinate
  • Slow urine stream and urine leakage
  • Cloudy urine with a strong odor
  • Pain in the lower abdomen
  • Chills, nausea, or back pain
The severity of this can indicate that the infection has reached the kidneys, and prompt treatment is required.


Diagnosis

Although you can physically examine the genitals for pain and swelling don't wait too long to consult a doctor. The presence of pus in the urine can confirm the UTI. Other tests include a urinalysis to check blood, white blood cells, and bacteria. A urine culture test is also suggested to determine anatomical or functional issues.

The prescribed medicines may include antibiotics, nitrofurantoin (Macrobid), fluoroquinolones, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim), fosfomycin, or aminoglycosides.


Stop! You're doing that wrong.

To prevent a UTI, stop the bacteria from attacking the urinary tract and flooding it with infection; read further to see where you are going wrong.
  • Don't hold it in; urinate while you feel like urinating
  • Have a walk, don't sit at the same place for too long
  • Clean the genitals after sex, especially anal intercourse
  • Carefully clean the genitals with toilet paper and avoid using harsh cleansers or soaps
  • Drink plenty of liquids and urinate often
  • Always wipe that genital from front to back
  • Peeing after sexual intercourse can also reduce the risk of a UTI


Ease me at home.

Although it's highly recommended to consult a doctor for the same, in case you need immediate relief, then try these,
  • Drink plenty of water and juices, try detox drinks, and reduce caffeine intake as much as possible.
  • Avoid canned products with additives and preservatives, stock up on lemons, and take as much vitamin C as you can; it'll help flush out the bacteria.
  • Drink 240ml of unsweetened cranberry juice every day.
  • Take probiotics; it enhance the immune system and restores digestive health.
Besides these, here are a few suggestive implements that can be added to your regular diet intake to prevent UTIs from happening.
  • D-Mannose: A type of sugar found in cranberries that is said to be really effective in treating UTIs without antibiotics.
  • Bearberry leaf: Barberry leaf, Dandelion roots, and Dandelion leaf can decrease the possibility of UTIs.
  • Cranberry extract is an effective ingredient to kill the bacteria in the urinary tract.
  • Garlic extract: because of its antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties, it’s an effective ingredient that blocks the bacteria from entering the Urinary tract.
There’s a lot of advice out there and it can be really difficult to find what suits one the best if you think you have a UTI, you should definitely visit a doctor and meanwhile practice healthy habits to keep things under control and prevent them from happening again, hope we helped!