Nahomy Calixte, MD
Is a UTI different in men and women?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the organs of your body that are meant to funnel urine out of your system. The infection most commonly starts in the urethra, but could also be in the bladder, prostate (for men) or kidney. While most UTIs are a bacterial infection and are easily treated, sometimes they could be a sign of something more serious, especially in men.
UTIs can be classified in to two categories: Simple versus Complicated. Simple UTIs generally show no known factors as the underlying cause of the UTI while complicated UTIs tend have factors such as functional and/or anatomic abnormalities, treatments causing a low immune response, or an antibiotic resistance issue. Other factors to watch for include significant stress, indwelling urinary catheters and pregnancy in women. While almost half of all women will experience a UTI in their lifetime, they are usually less common in healthy men younger than 50 years old. However, as men age the risk of UTI rises. Men who experience UTIs tend to have complicated UTIs and there is often an underlying cause to the infection, beyond just a routine infection in the urinary tract.
Symptoms to watch for include urinary urgency, urinary frequency, blood in the urine, incontinence and/or burning sensation while urinating. More serious symptoms may include fever, chills and pain in the abdomen near the bladder. A UTI is diagnosed through a urine culture done by your primary care physician or urologist. Once diagnosed with a UTI, oral antibiotics can clear up simple infections. The management of complicated UTIs however also include identifying the underlying risk factors, which may involve tests such as obtaining imaging of the affected area or additional blood work. If you have or are experiencing recurrent UTIs, please discuss with your primary care physician about seeing a urologist for further evaluation.
Other tips for helping to prevent UTIs include proper hygiene, not holding your urine for an extended period of time and staying properly hydrated. Additionally, the American Urological Association states that cranberry supplements could be offered to prevent the risk of recurrent UTIs.
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Dr. Nahomy Calixte, MD | The PUR Clinic
503 Cagan View Rd, Ste. 200, Clermont
Office: 352.394.9511
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