A male UTI typically shows up as cloudy or murky urine, sometimes with visible blood, along with a burning sensation during urination and an increased urge to go. About 20% of men will experience a UTI in their lifetime, and while the infection is far more common in women, it tends to be taken more seriously in men because it often signals an underlying issue worth investigating.
What Your Urine Looks Like
The most obvious visual sign is a change in your urine. Instead of its normal clear or pale yellow appearance, urine during a UTI often turns cloudy or murky. In some cases it can look milky white. You may also notice pink, red, or cola-colored urine, which means blood is present. Even a small amount of blood can change the color noticeably. The urine may also have a strong, unpleasant smell that’s different from what you’re used to.
Not every UTI produces dramatic visual changes. Some men have urine that looks mostly normal but still test positive for infection. If you’re noticing even subtle shifts in color or clarity alongside other symptoms, that’s enough to warrant a urine test.
How It Feels
The hallmark sensation is burning or stinging when you urinate. This is usually most noticeable at the tip of the penis and along the urethra. You may also feel a persistent need to urinate even when your bladder is nearly empty, and when you do go, you might only produce a small amount. That constant sense of urgency can be one of the most disruptive parts of a UTI.
Beyond the urinary symptoms, a bladder infection can cause pressure or discomfort in the lower abdomen, centered around the pubic bone. Some men describe it as a dull ache or heaviness. If the infection is limited to the urethra (the tube urine passes through), the primary symptoms are burning with urination and sometimes a mild discharge from the opening of the penis.
Discharge and How It Differs From an STI
Some men with a UTI notice a small amount of discharge from the urethra, which can cause confusion since discharge is also a common sign of sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia or gonorrhea. UTI-related discharge, when it occurs, tends to be minimal and watery or slightly cloudy. STI-related discharge is more likely to be thicker, yellow-green, or pus-like, though there’s enough overlap that you can’t tell the difference just by looking.
If you’re sexually active and notice urethral discharge along with burning, your doctor will likely test for both a UTI and common STIs. The treatments are different, so getting the right diagnosis matters. A simple urine test and sometimes a swab can sort this out quickly.
Signs the Infection Has Spread
A UTI that stays in the bladder is uncomfortable but manageable. The concern with male UTIs is that the infection can travel upward to the kidneys or into the prostate, which sits just below the bladder. When this happens, symptoms escalate significantly.
A kidney infection adds fever, chills, nausea, and pain in the upper back or side (the flank area, roughly where your kidneys sit). The pain often feels deep and constant rather than sharp. If the infection reaches the prostate, a condition called acute bacterial prostatitis, you may develop a high fever, pain between the scrotum and rectum, and difficulty urinating. The prostate becomes swollen and tender, which can partially block urine flow.
Fever and chills alongside urinary symptoms are red flags that the infection has moved beyond the bladder. In rare cases, a urinary infection can progress to a bloodstream infection called urosepsis, which causes dangerously low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, and difficulty breathing. This is a medical emergency.
Why Men Get UTIs
UTIs in men are relatively uncommon before age 50. The incidence is just 0.9 to 2.4 cases per 1,000 men under 55, rising to 7.7 per 1,000 in men 85 and older. That age pattern points to the most common culprit: an enlarged prostate. As the prostate grows with age, it can squeeze the urethra and prevent the bladder from emptying completely. Stagnant urine is a breeding ground for bacteria.
Other factors that increase risk include kidney stones, which can block urine flow and harbor bacteria, and any use of urinary catheters. Neurological conditions that affect bladder function also raise the odds. In younger men, UTIs sometimes occur without any structural problem and are often related to sexual activity, though this is less common than in women.
Because there’s often an underlying cause, doctors typically investigate further when a man develops a UTI, especially if it’s a first episode or keeps coming back. This might involve imaging of the urinary tract or checking the prostate.
What Treatment Looks Like
Male UTIs are treated with antibiotics, but the course is longer than what women typically receive. A standard bladder infection in a man requires about 7 days of antibiotics, compared to 3 to 5 days for most women. The longer course accounts for the possibility that bacteria have reached the prostate, which is harder for antibiotics to penetrate.
If the infection involves the prostate (bacterial prostatitis), treatment extends to about 14 days. Most men start feeling better within 2 to 3 days of starting antibiotics, but finishing the full course is important to clear the infection completely and prevent recurrence.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis is a frustrating variation where the infection keeps returning. Men with this condition experience recurring UTIs along with pelvic pain and voiding problems between episodes. It requires a longer, more targeted treatment approach and sometimes additional workup to identify what’s keeping the bacteria around, such as bladder stones or incomplete bladder emptying.
Getting a Diagnosis
Diagnosing a UTI is straightforward. A urine sample is tested with a dipstick that checks for two key markers: leukocyte esterase (a sign of white blood cells fighting infection) and nitrites (a byproduct of certain bacteria). If either is positive, infection is likely. The sample is usually also sent for a culture, which identifies the specific bacteria and confirms which antibiotics will work against it. Results from the culture take a day or two, but treatment often starts right away based on the dipstick results and your symptoms.
For recurrent infections, your doctor may order an ultrasound or CT scan to look for structural issues like an enlarged prostate, bladder stones, or narrowing of the urethra. These problems don’t resolve on their own, and treating them is often the key to stopping UTIs from coming back.