Can Guys Get UTIs Too? | Signs Men Shouldn’t Ignore

Yes, men can get urinary tract infections, and burning, urgency, fever, or back pain can mean it’s time to get checked soon.

Most people link UTIs with women, so many men brush off early symptoms. That delay can turn a small bladder infection into a rough week, or worse, a kidney infection. If you’re asking whether guys get UTIs too, the answer is plain: yes, they do.

The good news is that a lot of UTIs improve with the right treatment. The hard part is spotting it early, since a UTI in men can feel like other problems, such as prostate trouble, dehydration, irritation after sex, or an STI. This article breaks down what a male UTI can feel like, what raises the odds, when it needs urgent care, and what usually happens at the clinic.

Why Men Get UTIs And Why They’re Less Common

A UTI is an infection in the urinary tract, which includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. In many cases, bacteria get into the urethra and move upward. The bladder is the usual site for a lower UTI. If the infection moves higher, it can affect the kidneys and become much more serious.

Men get UTIs less often than women, but “less often” does not mean “never.” The longer male urethra makes it harder for bacteria to reach the bladder. That gives some protection. Still, age, prostate issues, catheters, kidney stones, and poor bladder emptying can make UTIs more likely.

Men also get urinary symptoms from non-UTI causes. That’s why guessing can backfire. Burning, urgency, pelvic pressure, or cloudy urine can point to a UTI, but prostatitis, urethritis, STIs, bladder irritation, and stones can also cause similar symptoms. A urine test helps sort it out.

Can Guys Get UTIs Too? What A Male UTI Often Feels Like

Yes, and the symptoms can be easy to miss at first. Some men notice a burning feeling when they pee. Others feel like they need to go all the time, then pass only a small amount. Some get lower belly pain, pressure, or urine that looks cloudy or smells stronger than usual.

Blood in the urine can happen too. That can look pink, red, or tea-colored. It may be a UTI, but it still needs a medical check because blood can come from other urinary problems.

If the infection has moved up, symptoms often hit harder. Fever, chills, nausea, side pain, and back pain near the ribs can point to a kidney infection. That needs prompt medical care.

Symptoms That Fit A Lower UTI

• Burning or pain while peeing
• Frequent urination with small amounts
• Strong urge to pee
• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
• Lower belly discomfort or pressure
• Blood in the urine

Symptoms That Raise Concern For A More Serious Infection

• Fever or chills
• Pain in the back or side (flank pain)
• Nausea or vomiting
• Feeling weak, shaky, or unusually ill
• Confusion in an older adult

Some men also have trouble starting urine flow or feel like they still need to pee right after finishing. That can happen with a UTI, but it can also happen with prostate enlargement. A urine test and exam can help split those apart.

What Raises The Odds Of A UTI In Men

UTIs in men often show up when something makes it easier for bacteria to grow or harder for urine to drain. Urine that sits in the bladder gives bacteria more time. Any blockage or poor emptying can raise risk.

Common Risk Factors

Prostate enlargement is a big one, especially with age. A larger prostate can slow urine flow and leave urine behind in the bladder. Kidney stones can also block urine flow or irritate the tract. Catheters raise risk because they give germs a direct path and can irritate the urethra.

Diabetes can raise risk too, partly because high blood sugar can help bacteria grow and because some people with diabetes have bladder emptying issues. A weak immune system, recent urinary procedures, and a past history of UTIs also matter.

Sex can play a part, and so can STIs. A person may think he has a UTI when the real issue is urethritis from an STI. That’s one reason a proper test matters if symptoms start after sex, come with discharge, or keep coming back.

Quick Symptom And Risk Check

If you have burning or urgency plus one or more risk factors like a catheter, stones, prostate trouble, or a recent procedure, don’t wait too long. A simple urine test can save a lot of pain and cut the chance of spread.

Pattern	What It May Point To	What To Do Next
Burning + frequent urination + urgency	Lower UTI (bladder/urethra) is possible	Get a urine test soon, especially if symptoms last more than a day
Cloudy or strong-smelling urine + lower belly pressure	UTI is possible, but irritation or dehydration can also do this	Hydrate and seek testing if symptoms persist or worsen
Blood in urine + burning	UTI can cause this, but stones and other urinary issues can too	Get checked promptly
Fever + chills + back/side pain	Kidney infection or severe UTI	Urgent medical care now
Trouble starting urine flow + frequent urge	UTI, prostate issue, or both	Medical visit with urine testing
Symptoms after catheter use	Catheter-related UTI risk is higher	Contact a clinician quickly
Burning after sex + discharge	UTI or STI-related urethritis	Ask for urine testing and STI testing
Repeated UTIs	May need a search for stones, blockage, or prostate problems	Follow-up care with a clinician or urology visit

When To Get Medical Care Right Away

Some signs should move you from “I’ll wait and see” to “I need care now.” Fever with urinary symptoms is a big one. Back or side pain near the ribs is another. Vomiting, severe pain, weakness, or feeling faint also raise concern.

If you’re older, have diabetes, have kidney disease, use a catheter, or have trouble passing urine, go in sooner. A blocked urinary tract plus infection can get serious fast. If there’s confusion, shaking, or severe illness, urgent care or an ER visit is the safer move.

For plain-language symptom lists and warning signs, the Mayo Clinic UTI symptoms and causes page gives a solid summary, and the NHS UTI page also outlines symptoms that need prompt care.

How Doctors Check A UTI In Men

Most visits start with a symptom review and a urine sample. A dipstick test can pick up signs of infection fast. A urinalysis can show white blood cells, blood, and other clues. A urine culture may be ordered to identify the germ and choose the right antibiotic, mainly if symptoms are strong, you’ve had UTIs before, or the first treatment didn’t work.

The visit may also include questions about sex, past stones, prostate symptoms, catheters, recent procedures, and hydration. If you have fever, back pain, or repeat infections, more testing may be needed. That can include blood tests, imaging, or a referral to urology.

The NIDDK bladder infection in adults page explains how bladder infections start, what symptoms show up, and why treatment matters if symptoms are not improving.

Why Self-Diagnosing Can Go Wrong

Men often try to “flush it out” with water for a few days. Drinking water can help with hydration, but it won’t clear a bacterial infection on its own in many cases. Also, burning urine and urgency are not UTI-only symptoms. If it’s prostatitis, an STI, or a stone, the treatment plan is different.

Another mistake is taking leftover antibiotics. The wrong drug, the wrong dose, or a short course can leave the infection partly treated and harder to clear.

Clinic Step	What It Checks	What You Can Expect
Urine dipstick / urinalysis	Signs of infection, blood, and inflammation	Fast results during the visit or same day
Urine culture	Which germ is causing symptoms and which antibiotics may work	Usually 1–3 days for results
Physical exam and history	Prostate clues, bladder retention, STI risk, stone risk	Questions plus a focused exam
Imaging or urology follow-up	Blockage, stones, repeat infection pattern	Used more often if UTIs recur or symptoms are severe

How UTIs In Men Are Usually Treated

Treatment often includes antibiotics. The choice and length depend on symptoms, your health history, local resistance patterns, and urine culture results if a culture is done. Many people start feeling better within a day or two after the right medicine starts, but the full course still matters.

Drink enough fluids unless a clinician has told you to limit fluids for another health issue. Rest helps. Pain relief may also be used, based on what your doctor says is safe for you.

If there’s a blockage, stone, enlarged prostate issue, or catheter problem, treating the infection alone may not stop it from returning. Repeat infections in men often need a closer look, since there may be an underlying urinary issue.

The National Kidney Foundation’s UTI page also warns that untreated infections can spread and affect the kidneys, which is one reason early care matters.

What About Home Remedies?

Home steps can ease discomfort, but they don’t replace testing when symptoms look like a UTI. Water can help with hydration. A heating pad on the lower belly may help with pressure. Avoiding bladder irritants, such as alcohol, may help some people feel less burning.

Cranberry products get a lot of attention. Some people use them, but they are not a stand-in for medical care when you have clear urinary symptoms, fever, back pain, or repeat infections.

How To Lower The Chances Of Another UTI

You can cut your odds with a few habits and by fixing the trigger when one is present. The plan depends on what caused the infection in the first place. A man with a catheter needs a different plan than a man with stones or a prostate issue.

Prevention Steps That Help

• Don’t hold urine for long periods if you can avoid it
• Drink enough water through the day
• Treat constipation, since it can worsen urinary symptoms
• Get checked for prostate-related urine retention if you have weak flow or incomplete emptying
• Follow catheter care instructions closely if you use one
• Get STI testing when symptoms follow sex or include discharge
• Finish prescribed antibiotics exactly as directed

If UTIs keep coming back, write down your symptoms, when they start, and anything that happened before them, such as sex, dehydration, travel, or a catheter change. That pattern can help your clinician spot what’s driving the repeat infections.

What Men Often Get Wrong About UTIs

“Men Don’t Get UTIs”

They do. They’re less common, not rare. That belief is one reason many men wait too long.

“If It Burns, It Must Be A UTI”

Not always. STIs, prostatitis, stones, and irritation can feel similar. Testing is what gives a clear answer.

“No Fever Means It’s Not A Big Deal”

You can still have a lower UTI without fever. It still deserves attention, mainly if you have blood in the urine, severe pain, or symptoms that are not easing.

“I Felt Better, So I Stopped My Antibiotics”

Stopping early can leave some bacteria behind. Symptoms may return, and treatment can get trickier.

A Practical Plan If You Think You Have One

If you think you may have a UTI, set a simple plan. If you have fever, back or side pain, vomiting, or feel severely ill, get urgent care. If symptoms are milder, book a same-day or next-day visit for a urine test. Drink fluids, skip alcohol, and avoid leftover antibiotics.

UTIs in men are treatable, and many clear with prompt care. The main thing is not brushing off the early signs. A short clinic visit and urine test can prevent a much longer problem.