Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) & Men at a Glance
- More common among women than men
- Symptoms include painful and/or frequent urination
- Testing and treatment are available
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are caused by bacteria that have spread to your urinary system including the
- bladder — the organ that collects and stores urine
- ureters — the tubes that lead from the kidneys to the bladder
- urethra — the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body
UTIs are far more common among women than men. But men still get UTIs. UTIs should be taken seriously. Severe cases of urinary tract infections, left untreated, may cause kidney or prostate infection.
Common symptoms of UTIs include
- burning pain during urination
- an urge to urinate when your bladder is nearly empty
- feeling like you need to urinate all the time, especially at night
- difficulty controlling when you urinate
- lower abdominal pain or back pain
- blood and/or pus in urine
- fever
If you have symptoms, make an appointment with your health care provider. Testing and treatment are simple. They are available at your local Planned Parenthood health center, many other clinics, and private health care providers.
For more detailed information, see our general page on urinary tract infections.
