Bladder infection in men: Symptoms and treatment
What is Bladder Infection?
Bladder infection in men is also known as cystitis. The bladder is a container that stores the urine made by the kidneys. The urine passes from the bladder through the urethra to the outside of the body.
The term cystitis refers to an inflammation of your urinary bladder. It can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection and may be short-term or chronic.
This article will explain what are the causes of bladder infection in men, what are the symptoms of cystitis, and what are its treatments.
What are the Causes of Bladder Infections in Men?
A bladder infection is also called a UTI or urinary tract infection. This infection occurs due to the retention of urine in the urethral tract which causes irritation and the formation of a narrow track. This blockage leads to an infection.
The cause of Bladder infection is the obstruction of the urinary tract, which can be caused due to various reasons like enlarged prostate gland, injury, or a stone in the kidney.
Some other causes of bladder infections include:
- Frequent sexual intercourse with same or new partners.
- Not urinating immediately after sexual intercourse.
- Chronic diabetes.
- Changes in the urinary system.
- Diagnosed with bladder or kidney infection within the past year.
The problems associated with bladder infection are irritation in the urethra, which leads to painful urination, frequent urge to urinate, nausea, and vomiting.
What are the Symptoms of Bladder Infections in Men?
Bladder infections are a common problem in men that is highly misunderstood. There are many varieties of bladder infections, and each one has a different cause and effect. The most common variety is due to acute (recent) bacterial infection which occurs when there is an imbalance of bacteria in the urinary tract. Once the balance of healthy bacteria is disturbed, it allows for the multiplication of the infection-causing bacteria. Below are some of the common symptoms of bladder infections:
- Frequent urination.
- Strong, persistent urge to urinate.
- Burning or tingling sensation during or just after urination (medically termed as dysuria).
- Low-grade fever.
- Cloudy urine with a strong odor.
- Blood in the urine (medically termed as hematuria).
- Trouble urinating, especially if you have a problem with your prostate.
What are the Treatments Available for Bladder Infections in Men?
Bladder infections are extremely common and usually not a cause for concern. However, if you get frequent bladder infections or have other chronic bladder diseases you'll probably want to avoid them. You can prevent most bladder infections by taking certain steps in your daily hygiene routine. Also, you should know that bladder infections can affect your sex life by causing painful urination and a burning sensation while peeing.
People with acute bladder infections are usually recommended a short course of antibiotics but people with more complicated bladder infections will have to take antibiotics for more than 10 days.
Unsweetened Cranberry juice or cranberry supplements can help prevent frequent bladder infections because Cranberry has compounds known as proanthocyanidins that can prevent bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urethra and bladder.
Bladder Infections and UTIs
Urinary tract infections or UTIs are one of the most common infections amongst men. It can be painful and is typically caused by bacteria and/or germs getting into the urinary tract through the urethra, a tube that runs from the bladder to the outside of the body. Bladder infections are one of the most common types of UTI experienced by men around the world.
What are the Causes of UTIs in Men?
Men are more likely to get UTIs than women. Not only this, men can suffer from a chronic form of UTI (which can lead to serious complications) that can be particularly difficult to treat.
The lower the kidney function and urine output, the higher the risk of infections. If you have had a kidney transplant, it is important to avoid any medication that contains nitrates. The two main risk factors for men include:
1) Being uncircumcised
2) Having sex with multiple partners
What are the Symptoms of UTIs in Men?
The UTI can occur in both men and women but men are more prone to this infection. The infections may affect any age group but those who are most vulnerable to bladder infection are children under 5 years of age, pregnant women, and elderly senior people.
Urinary tract infection is a relatively common problem and millions of people are affected by this every year. The urinary tract consists of kidneys and bladder, with both the kidneys and bladder holding urine.
The most common symptom of UTI is an intense urge to urinate even when the bladder is not full.
What are Treatments Available for UTIs?
Though UTIs are usually not serious or a sign of concern, they can cause severe pain and discomfort. If not treated, some UTIs can lead to more serious conditions that may have life-changing effects.
To alleviate this pain and discomfort, here are some tips!
Consult your doctor and he might prescribe some antibiotic medications which you will have to take either once or twice a day for 5-7 or more days.
We recommend drinking adequate fluids to stay hydrated and urinate often while taking your antibiotics. Many people prefer drinking cranberry juice to prevent UTIs but there is no strong evidence that supports this home remedy.
Take Away
Bladder infection or urinary tract infection or UTI is one of the most common problems experienced by men. This urinary tract infection can occur when the bacteria from the bowel enter the urethra (the tube that drains the urine). When this happens, the urinary tract gets inflamed, resulting in bladder infection.
