Approximately one in five urinary tract infections affect male patients, according to Dr. Tomas Griebling in a report published by the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Bacteria within the urinary tract can cause severe bladder inflammation and irritation, leading to the classic symptoms of frequent, urgent urination. Patients who have questions regarding what causes male urinary tract infection should consult a physician for further guidance.
Bacterial Prostatitis or Enlarged Prostate
Bacterial prostatitis or an enlarged prostate can cause male urinary tract infection, Drugs.com reports. The prostate gland is involved in semen production and sits immediately beneath the bladder. Prostate enlargement causes the prostate gland to swell, which can irritate a man's bladder. Bacterial prostatitis, which is a bacterial infection of the prostate gland, can also cause male urinary tract infection in affected patients. Men who develop bladder infection symptoms due to bacterial prostatitis or an enlarged prostate typically require antibiotic medication to eradicate the illness.
Sexual Intercourse
Men can develop a urinary tract infection by engaging in sexual intercourse with an infected partner or by having anal sex. Bacteria from the anus or an infected partner can enter a man's urethra, a small tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the penis. These bacteria can then travel into a man's bladder, causing a urinary tract infection. Additionally, men who are not circumcised are at an increased risk of developing urinary tract infection symptoms, because the foreskin can trap bacteria at the head of the penis, Drugs.com warns.
Bladder or Kidney Stones
Bladder or kidney stones can cause urinary tract infection in certain men, PDRHealth reports. These small, hard stones can prevent urine from flowing out of the body. Urine that remains within the bladder due to a urinary tract blockage can become infected with bacteria. Men with a bladder infection caused by kidney or bladder stones may require treatment for both medical conditions to resolve bladder infection symptoms.
Urinary Catheter
During certain types of surgery, a urinary catheter may be placed within the bladder to help drain this organ of fluid waste. The urinary catheter is inserted through the urethra and into the bladder. In certain cases, the urinary catheter can be contaminated by bacteria prior to insertion. Men who receive a contaminated urinary catheter can develop a urinary tract infection, the University of Tennessee Medical Center warns.
References
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Urologic Diseases in America - Chapter 19: Urinary Tract Infection in Men
- PDRHealth: Urinary Tract Infection in Men
- The University of Tennessee Medical Center: Urinary Tract Infection - Adults
- The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Bladder Infection
- Drugs.com: Urinary Tract Infection in Men
