Cystitis (UTI)

Cystitis is inflammation in the bladder caused by a bacterial bladder infection.

While men are less prone to developing cystitis than women due to the anatomy of the male reproductive system, they can still get it.

Cystitis in men is not usually a serious or life-threatening condition, but the symptoms can be painful if not treated quickly. UTIs can require antibiotic treatment, but it's not always necessary.

Men who have unprotected anal sexual intercourse are at a slightly higher risk of contracting cystitis.

Our treatments can help to alleviate symptoms and clear up the cystitis infection quickly.

Cystitis or urinary tract infection UTI?

Cystitis and Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) can be the same thing, but not always.

UTIs affect your urinary tract. This includes your bladder (where the infection is known as cystitis), your urethra, or kidneys.

Cystitis is the inflammation of your bladder caused by a bacterial infection or noninfectious reason.

Different types of cystitis in men

There are several different types of cystitis that men can have, each with a different underlying cause:

-Bacterial cystitis - bacterial cystitis in men can be caused by a bacterial infection from bacteria introduced after unprotected anal sex.

-Interstitial cystitis - interstitial cystitis is also known as painful bladder syndrome and is the result of long term inflammation of the bladder. This type of infection is more common in women, but it does still affect men too.

-Drug induced cystitis - drug induced cystitis is the result of the remains of medication in your body, typically chemotherapy drugs, that can inflame your bladder.

-Radiation cystitis - radiation cystitis is the result of radiation therapy in your pelvic region, inflaming your bladder causing a bladder infection.

-Foreign body cystitis - foreign body cystitis is usually caused by long term reliance on a urinary catheter, which can introduce bacteria into your urinary tract.

-Chemical cystitis - chemical cystitis is the result of exposure to certain chemicals i.e. perfumed soaps or hygiene products that cause allergic reactions leading to bladder inflammation.

Common causes of urinary tract infections in men

-Bladder infection
-Kidney infection
-Prostate infection
-Catheter
-Obstruction in the urinary tract
-Conditions that weaken your immune system such as diabetes or HIV
-Chemicals in hygiene products such as talcum powder, or fragrances in bubble bath products
-Reaction to medicine
-Reaction to radiation or chemotherapy drugs

Symptoms of cystitis in men

The symptoms of cystitis is men and women aren't that different, with the notable exception of an enlarged prostate gland.

-Frequent urination but only passing a small amount of urine
-Strong and frequent urge to urinate
-Bladder pain
-Burning sensation while urinating
-Low fever, feeling unwell, weak
-Dark coloured urine
-Strong smelling urine sample
-Blood traces in your urine
-Difficulty urinating, especially if you have an enlarged prostate gland

Are there long term effects of male cystitis?

While most men won't experience long term effects of male cystitis, some might experience recurring cystitis.

How to diagnose male cystitis

Your doctor might carry out a few tests to diagnose cystitis such as:

-Urine analysis - your doctor will require a urine specimen to send to a lab to do a urine test of your urine culture and look to identify what kind of bacteria are causing your bladder infections.

-Cystoscopy - this involves inserting a long thin tube with a tiny camera attached up your urethra to look at your bladder. This helps the doctor look at your bladder wall and check for signs of inflammation or infection. If you have cystitis frequently, they may take a tissue sample.

-Imaging - if you have cystitis symptoms but you don't have an infection, your doctor might require further