Contents:
- Medical Video: About Urinary Tract Infections in Men
- What is a urinary tract infection?
- Symptoms and characteristics of urinary tract infections in men
- How do you know for sure if you have a urinary tract infection?
- Tips for men not to get urinary tract infections
Medical Video: About Urinary Tract Infections in Men
For women, urinary tract infections may not be a stranger. However, even though most people with this disease are women, it does not mean that men are free from it. What are the characteristics of urinary tract infections in men?
What is a urinary tract infection?
Urinary tract infections are infections caused by bacteria that enter your urinary tract. Usually, bacteria in the urinary tract will be wasted when you urinate. However, if there is still something left, this can trigger an infection.
What is included in the urinary tract? The urinary tract includes the kidneys, bladder, ureter and urethra. Urine is produced in the kidney, then flowed into the bladder through the ureter. Urine will then be removed from the bladder through the urethra. Well, urinary tract infections are usually more common in the lower urinary tract, which includes the bladder and urethra.
Symptoms and characteristics of urinary tract infections in men
The characteristics of urinary tract infections in men can vary depending on where the infection is located.
- If the infection occurs in the bladder (cystitis), you may feel pain every time urinating, and you will also urinate more often. Your lower abdomen may be painful, and your urine will be darker in color, may be mixed with blood, smell bad, and you may also experience a fever.
- If an infection occurs in the kidney, you may feel pain in the side of the abdomen, the place where the kidney is located. You may also experience a high fever, feeling nauseous, vomiting, and generally not feeling well.
In middle-aged men, sometimes urinary tract infections do not show any symptoms in terms of urination, but you may feel unwell, accompanied by confusion or dazed.
How do you know for sure if you have a urinary tract infection?
The doctor will usually press several parts of the abdomen and back, to check whether you feel pain. If the diagnosis cannot be established, you may be asked to undergo one of the following tests:
- Urine test. Your urine sample will be sent to the lab to be tested and find out what bacteria are causing your infection. For this, you must urinate into a plastic container.
- Blood test. Your doctor may ask you for a blood test if you have a prostate infection.
- Imaging test. This test may be needed if your urinary tract infection doesn't heal, or if you get this infection many times. An imaging test will take a picture of your urinary tract so the doctor can see if your infection is from the kidney. This test can also show if you have damage, blockages, or other problems in your urinary tract.
Tips for men not to get urinary tract infections
To prevent urinary tract infections in men, this is what you need to do:
- Don't hold urine! Urinate immediately when you feel like going back.
- Drink lots of water. This will help you urinate more often, to drain the bacteria in your urethra.
