Older Men Are At Higher Risk of Getting a UTI

UTIs in men are more common with older age. One reason is that older men are more likely to develop noncancerous enlargement of their prostate gland, called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The prostate wraps around the neck of the bladder, where the urethra connects to the bladder. Enlargement of the prostate gland can choke off the bladder neck, making it harder for urine to flow freely. If the bladder doesn’t empty completely, bacteria that are normally flushed out with the urine might gain a foothold and start an infection.

Board-certified urologist Dr. Michael Douglas says “men who experience urinary issues related to a benign enlarged prostate (BPH) over many years may get to the point where their bladder simply wears out and doesn’t want to function any more. When this happens, the only treatment may be some form of catheterization. If men are evaluated and treated early, their symptoms almost always can be significantly improved and they can avoid living with a catheter.”

Other conditions that may be linked to an increased risk of urinary tract infection in men include:

• Kidney stones
• Abnormal narrowing of the urethra (urethral stricture)
• Having a recent urinary tract procedure involving instrumentation, such as insertion of a tube to drain your bladder (catheterization) or a small camera to examine your bladder and urethra (cystoscopy)
• Diabetes
• Wearing a catheter

Symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection

Signs and symptoms of UTI’s in men include:

• Cloudy urine with a strong odor
• Blood in urine (hematuria)
• Trouble urinating, especially if you have a problem with your prostate

• Frequent urination
• Strong, persistent urge to urinate (urgency)
• Burning or tingling sensation during or just after urination (dysuria)
• Low-grade fever

Below is an illustration of the urinary tract which details the important functions that the kidneys play in keeping regulating blood flow to and from the heart. If a bladder infection (cystitis) is left untreated, it may migrate up to the kidneys, which may cause a life-threatening condition such as kidney failure or sepsis.

Note the location of the prostate gland. If it becomes enlarged, it can block the urethra and hinder urination. Read more about enlarged prostate problems and UTIs in our related article.

Older Men Are At Higher Risk of Getting a UTI

UTIs in men are more common with older age. One reason is that older men are more likely to develop noncancerous enlargement of their prostate gland, called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The prostate wraps around the neck of the bladder, where the urethra connects to the bladder. Enlargement of the prostate gland can choke off the bladder neck, making it harder for urine to flow freely. If the bladder doesn’t empty completely, bacteria that are normally flushed out with the urine might gain a foothold and start an infection.

Board-certified urologist Dr. Michael Douglas says “men who experience urinary issues related to a benign enlarged prostate (BPH) over many years may get to the point where their bladder simply wears out and doesn’t want to function any more. When this happens, the only treatment may be some form of catheterization. If men are evaluated and treated early, their symptoms almost always can be significantly improved and they can avoid living with a catheter.”

Other conditions that may be linked to an increased risk of urinary tract infection in men include:

• Kidney stones
• Abnormal narrowing of the urethra (urethral stricture)
• Having a recent urinary tract procedure involving instrumentation, such as insertion of a tube to drain your bladder (catheterization) or a small camera to examine your bladder and urethra (cystoscopy)
• Diabetes
• Wearing a catheter

Symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection

Signs and symptoms of UTI’s in men include:

• Cloudy urine with a strong odor
• Blood in urine (hematuria)
• Trouble urinating, especially if you have a problem with your prostate

• Frequent urination
• Strong, persistent urge to urinate (urgency)
• Burning or tingling sensation during or just after urination (dysuria)
• Low-grade fever

Below is an illustration of the urinary tract which details the important functions that the kidneys play in keeping regulating blood flow to and from the heart. If a bladder infection (cystitis) is left untreated, it may migrate up to the kidneys, which may cause a life-threatening condition such as kidney failure or sepsis.

Note the location of the prostate gland. If it becomes enlarged, it can block the urethra and hinder urination. Read more about enlarged prostate problems and UTIs in our related article.

UTI Diagnosis and Treatment Options Will Vary

A doctor will likely start the analysis of the problem by taking a urine specimen and send it out to be cultured. This is a very important step, because it will immediately show whether the symptoms are being caused by a bacterial infection or something else. If the underlying cause of the urinary tract symptoms is not bacterial (e.g. related to prostate, kidney stones or diabetes), other tests will be conducted to assess the best solution.

If a UTI is diagnosed, the treatment plan usually includes antibiotics, but these medications are proving less and less effective. Due to years of overprescribing, the bacteria have learned how to out-smart the antibiotics; they hide, grow and mutate until the antibiotic is no longer present in the urinary tract and then they begin to grow again. Many of the traditional antibiotics that doctors have relied on for decades are no longer reliable for treatment of UTIs.

Evaluation of Recurring UTIs Is Key

Men who have prolonged UTI symptoms, or symptoms that come back, will be evaluated to determine if bacteria are still present in their urine.

If no bacteria are found, they may be evaluated for conditions like an infection of their prostate gland (prostatitis). It is also important to note here that men who have had prostate surgery often have symptoms of urinary frequency and leakage similar to a UTI. If no bacteria are found in their urine sample, they are unlikely to find any relief from an antibiotic or natural supplement treatment.

If bacteria have once again been found, the urologist will now be trying to identify whether this is a “relapse” or a “reinfection”.

• A relapse means that the UTI is being caused by the same bacterial infection which you had before you took the antibiotics;
• A reinfection means that different bacteria than the original one has been identified.

If it is a relapse, it’s most likely due to antibiotic resistance. If it’s a reinfection, the doctor will try to determine what new factors may be contributing to this new UTI. A relapse will typically occur within 2 weeks of the last dose of the antibiotic, whereas a reinfection usually occurs at least 4 weeks afterwards.

If UTI Antibiotics Are No Longer Reliable What Can Be Done?

Fortunately, there are alternatives. Medical doctors are increasingly recommending natural supplements as a way to eliminate these bacteria from your system. But it’s very important for patients to ask which TYPE of bacteria are causing the infection, because not every supplement will work with every strain of bacteria.

As mentioned above, over 80% of the infections are caused by the E-Coli bacteria. If this is the type of bacteria present in your urine, the recommended supplement is D-Mannose, which has been clinically proven to be as effective as antibiotics in ridding the system of this type of bacteria.

D-Mannose is a simple sugar, similar to the glucose that our own body produces, which is made from fruits. In its’ purest form, this powder is mixed in water and goes directly to the bladder where it flushes out the E Coli bacteria. This supplement has unique characteristics which prevent the bacteria from sticking to the lining of the bladder.

Goodbye UTI is a 100% pure D-Mannose supplement which has been proven to provide fast relief and to protect your bladder against future infections. Formulated under the strict supervision of a Doctor of Pharmacy in GA, UTI sufferers can trust the quality and safety of this product.