Men get urinary tract infections far less often than women, but the risk climbs significantly after age 50. For younger men, the rate is only about 5 to 8 infections per 10,000 each year. For older men, an enlarging prostate, catheter use, or incomplete bladder emptying can make UTIs a recurring problem. The good news: most of the controllable risk factors respond well to straightforward lifestyle changes.
Why Men Get UTIs in the First Place
The bacteria behind most UTIs, primarily E. coli from the gastrointestinal tract, enter through the urethra and travel upward into the bladder. Men have a longer urethra than women, which is why infections are rarer, but that anatomical advantage shrinks when something interferes with the normal flow of urine.
The single biggest risk factor for men over 50 is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or prostate enlargement. As the prostate grows, it squeezes the section of urethra running through it, making it harder to fully empty the bladder. Urine that sits in the bladder gives bacteria time to multiply. Kidney stones, urethral strictures, and catheter use create similar problems by either blocking flow or introducing bacteria directly. In younger men, most infections traced to a “UTI” turn out to be urethritis or prostatitis linked to sexually transmitted infections rather than a classic bladder infection.
Drink More Water
Staying well hydrated is the simplest and best-supported prevention strategy. A randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that women with recurrent UTIs who added 1.5 liters of water to their daily intake had significantly fewer infections over 12 months compared to those who didn’t change their habits. Their urine volume increased by about 1.4 liters per day, and they urinated roughly two to three more times daily. While this particular trial enrolled women, the underlying mechanism (diluting urine and flushing bacteria out of the bladder more frequently) applies to anyone with a urinary tract.
General guidelines suggest men aim for about 2.5 to 3 liters of total fluid per day. If you’re currently a low-volume drinker, even a modest increase can make a difference. The goal is pale yellow urine and regular trips to the bathroom throughout the day. Each void physically clears bacteria from the bladder before they can establish an infection.
Hygiene Habits That Lower Risk
Because UTI-causing bacteria originate in the GI tract, keeping them away from the urethral opening matters. After using the toilet, wipe or clean from front to back. This is less commonly discussed for men than for women, but the same principle applies: minimizing the spread of fecal bacteria toward the urethra reduces your exposure.
If you’re uncircumcised, gently retract the foreskin and wash underneath with warm water during your regular shower. Bacteria can collect in that space and migrate into the urethra. Harsh soaps or antiseptics aren’t necessary and can irritate the tissue, potentially making things worse. Plain water or a mild, unscented cleanser is enough.
Urinate Before and After Sex
Sexual activity can push bacteria from the genital and anal area into the urethra. Urinating before and after sex helps flush those bacteria out before they reach the bladder. This advice is standard from urologists and infectious disease specialists. It costs nothing, takes minimal effort, and is one of the most commonly recommended steps for anyone prone to UTIs. Staying hydrated in the hours around sexual activity makes it easier to produce a good void afterward.
Address Prostate Enlargement Early
If you’re over 50 and noticing a weak stream, frequent nighttime urination, or a feeling that your bladder isn’t fully emptying, those are classic signs of prostate enlargement. Left untreated, BPH creates the stagnant urine environment bacteria thrive in. For men with recurrent UTIs tied to BPH, European urology guidelines consider surgical treatment an appropriate option when infections keep coming back despite other measures.
Medications that relax the muscles around the prostate or shrink the gland itself can improve urine flow and reduce residual volume in the bladder. If you’re experiencing urinary symptoms, getting evaluated sooner rather than later can prevent a cycle of repeated infections, each of which typically requires at least two weeks of antibiotics in men because of the risk that the prostate itself is harboring bacteria.
Empty Your Bladder Completely
Residual urine is a breeding ground for bacteria. Beyond treating an enlarged prostate, a few practical habits help ensure you’re emptying fully. Take your time at the toilet rather than rushing. Some men find that sitting to urinate allows the pelvic floor to relax more completely, improving emptying. If you feel like there’s still urine left, wait a few seconds and try again (sometimes called “double voiding”). Avoid holding your bladder for extended periods when you feel the urge, as chronically overstretching the bladder wall can weaken its ability to contract and empty.
What About Cranberry and D-Mannose?
Cranberry supplements and D-mannose (a sugar thought to prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall) are widely marketed for UTI prevention. The evidence, however, is weak. A Cochrane review of seven randomized trials examining D-mannose found no clear evidence that it prevents or treats UTIs. The studies were small, the certainty of the evidence was rated very low, and results were inconclusive whether D-mannose was compared to no treatment or to antibiotics.
Cranberry products have somewhat more research behind them, but results are mixed, and most studies have focused on women. A sugary cranberry juice cocktail offers no benefit. If you want to try cranberry capsules or D-mannose, they’re unlikely to cause harm, but they shouldn’t replace the strategies with stronger evidence: hydration, hygiene, post-sex urination, and managing any underlying urinary obstruction.
Recognizing a UTI vs. Other Conditions
Burning during urination, urgency, and frequent small voids are the hallmark symptoms of a bladder infection. But in men, especially those over 50, these same symptoms can come from prostate enlargement, chronic bacterial prostatitis, or even bladder conditions unrelated to infection. If you have urinary frequency and urgency but a urine test shows no bacteria, the problem is more likely prostatitis or another cause rather than a true UTI.
In younger men, recurrent “UTI” symptoms often point toward sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia or gonorrhea, which cause urethritis with similar burning and discharge. Getting the right diagnosis matters because the treatments are different, and repeated courses of standard UTI antibiotics won’t resolve an STI or chronic prostatitis. A urine culture, not just a dipstick test, is the most reliable way to confirm whether bacteria are actually present and which ones are involved.