Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, occur in both men and women; however, they are more common in women. According to Dr. Thomas Griebling of the University of Kansas Urology Department, only about 20 percent of UTI cases occur in men. However, the Mayo Clinic reports that when a man gets a UTI, it can lead to more serious problems. UTI symptoms may differ depending on the area of the urinary system affected.
Painful Urination
A UTI often causes pain or discomfort during urination. This may feel like burning for a man with a UTI. According to the Mayo Clinic, this symptom is common in men who have an infection in the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. However, some burning during urination may also occur if the bladder is affected by the UTI. This type of UTI may also be called cystitis. The burning sensation usually goes away once the urine has passed.
Urinary Urgency
According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), a man with a UTI may also feel the need to urinate more frequently than usual. He may also feel a stronger than usual urge to urinate (called urinary urgency), though may pass little urine during these frequent trips to the bathroom. The Mayo Clinic reports that urinary urgency and increased frequency are common when the bladder is affected by the UTI.
Changes in the Urine
A man with UTI may notice changes in his urine's color or smell. The NKUDIC reports that a person with a UTI may have foul-smelling urine. It is also common for urine to simply smell stronger than usual. A UTI can also cause urine to change colors (often it appears darker) or to become cloudy. Some men may even notice blood in their urine: according to the Mayo Clinic, this particular symptom of UTI is called hematuria.
Abdominal and Back Pain
In addition to painful urination, a UTI may actually cause pain in certain parts of a man's body. According to the NKUDIC, pain may be present in the lower back or the abdomen. A UTI can also cause pain in the sides, also known as flank pain. Unlike burning urination, this symptom persists for long periods of time. The Mayo Clinic reports that this type of pain is common in UTIs that have traveled to the kidneys, a condition called acute pyelonephritis. UTI in the bladder may cause similar discomfort; however, this may feel more like pressure in the pelvis or the abdomen as opposed to pain.
Fever and Chills
Some UTIs can cause flu-like symptoms, such as fever and chills, according to the NKUDIC. A man who has fever and chills associated with his UTI may have an infection that has traveled to his kidneys. A bladder infection, however, can also cause a low-grade fever. When the kidneys are affected during a UTI, nausea and vomiting may also be present.
