Men get urinary tract infections when bacteria enter the urethra and travel into the bladder or, less commonly, the kidneys or prostate. UTIs are far less common in men than in women, largely because the male urethra is about 20 cm (7 to 8 inches) long, compared to just 3 to 4 cm in women. That extra distance makes it harder for bacteria to reach the bladder. But certain conditions, behaviors, and medical procedures can overcome that natural protection.
Why Men Are Less Prone but Not Immune
The length of the male urethra is the single biggest reason UTIs are relatively rare in younger men. Bacteria have to travel a much longer path to reach the bladder, and most are flushed out during urination before they can establish an infection. Prostatic fluid also has mild antibacterial properties that add another layer of defense.
These protections weaken with age. After 50, UTI rates in men climb significantly, mostly because of prostate changes and other conditions that interfere with normal urine flow. A UTI in a younger man with no obvious risk factors is unusual enough that doctors will often investigate to find out why it happened.
The Most Common Causes
Enlarged Prostate
An enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is the most common reason older men develop UTIs. As the prostate grows, it presses against the bladder and pinches the urethra, slowing or partially blocking urine flow. Over time, the bladder muscle weakens from straining against this narrowed opening, and the bladder stops emptying completely. That leftover urine becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.
Urinary Blockages
Anything that traps urine in the urinary tract raises infection risk. Kidney stones can lodge in the ureters (the tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder), blocking urine flow and causing the kidney to swell. The stagnant urine behind the blockage creates ideal conditions for bacterial growth. Urethral strictures, which are areas of scar tissue that narrow the urethra, work in a similar way. Some types of kidney stones, called struvite stones, actually form in response to a UTI and can grow quickly, creating a cycle of infection and obstruction.
Catheter Use
Urinary catheters are one of the most well-documented causes of UTIs in men, particularly in hospitals and long-term care settings. A catheter bypasses the body’s natural defenses by giving bacteria a direct route into the bladder. The risk starts immediately: there’s roughly a 7.4% chance of infection within the first 24 hours after insertion, with the risk climbing about 8% each additional day for the first week. By 30 days of catheterization, roughly 12% of patients have developed a catheter-associated UTI. By 60 days, nearly 30% have. Men do have somewhat lower catheter-related infection rates than women, but the risk is still substantial.
Sexual Activity
Sex can introduce bacteria into the urethra. Being uncircumcised and participating in anal sex both increase UTI risk in men. Sexually transmitted infections can also cause urinary symptoms that overlap with or accompany a UTI, so new urinary burning or discharge after sexual contact warrants testing for both.
What a Male UTI Feels Like
The symptoms come on abruptly in most cases. You may notice a frequent, urgent need to urinate, pain or burning during urination, and a feeling of pressure above the pubic bone. Waking up multiple times at night to urinate is another hallmark. Urine may look cloudy or have an unusual smell.
If the infection reaches the kidneys, symptoms escalate to fever, chills, nausea, and pain in the back or side. If the prostate becomes involved (acute prostatitis), you can develop a high fever along with deep pelvic pain, difficulty urinating, or feeling like you can’t fully empty your bladder. Prostate involvement is more common in male UTIs than many people realize, and it changes how the infection is treated.
How Treatment Differs for Men
UTIs in men are generally treated with antibiotics for longer than in women. Women with a simple bladder infection might take antibiotics for 3 to 5 days, but men typically need at least 7 days because the infection is more likely to involve the prostate or other structures. Updated 2025 guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommend 5 to 7 days for complicated UTIs that are responding well to treatment.
When doctors suspect the prostate is infected, the treatment course extends to 10 to 14 days for an acute episode. Chronic bacterial prostatitis, where the prostate harbors bacteria and triggers repeated UTIs, requires 6 to 12 weeks of antibiotics. The prostate is difficult to treat because most antibiotics don’t penetrate its tissue very well, which is why infections there tend to linger and recur.
The Prostate as a Hidden Reservoir
One of the reasons male UTIs can become a recurring problem is the prostate itself. Chronic bacterial prostatitis is a condition where bacteria persist in the prostate and periodically seed new infections in the bladder. It often produces few or no prostate-specific symptoms between flare-ups, so you may simply notice repeated UTIs without realizing the prostate is the source. This pattern of recurrent infections, especially in a man under 50 with no other risk factors, is a strong clue that the prostate is involved.
Reducing Your Risk
Staying well-hydrated and urinating frequently helps flush bacteria before they can establish an infection. If you have an enlarged prostate, managing it effectively reduces UTI risk by keeping your bladder from retaining urine. Men who use intermittent catheters should follow strict hygiene during insertion, as each catheterization is an opportunity for bacteria to enter the urinary tract.
Urinating after sex helps clear bacteria that may have been introduced during intercourse. If you’re experiencing recurrent UTIs, your doctor will likely check for underlying structural problems like an enlarged prostate, kidney stones, or urethral narrowing, since treating the root cause is often the only way to break the cycle.