Can men get UTIs from women?

Key takeaways

• Anyone can develop urinary tract infections (UTIs), regardless of gender, and they’re common after sexual activity. However, they’re more common in people with vaginas due to anatomical differences.
• UTIs are not sexually transmitted infections, but sexual activity can introduce bacteria into the urinary tract, leading to an infection.
• Preventive measures like urinating after sex, maintaining hygiene, and staying hydrated can help reduce the risk of UTIs, no matter your anatomy.

Overview

UTIs are infections of the urinary system, often caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract. More rarely, fungi may also contribute to UTIs.

UTIs are most common in the lower urinary tract, like the bladder, but if left untreated, they may also affect the kidneys, the tubes that drain urine from the kidneys to the bladder (ureters), or the tube that drains the bladder (urethra). 

People of any gender can get UTIs, though people with vaginas are more likely to get one. Because the urethra is shorter in people with vaginas, bacteria from the anus or perineal area can more easily move up into the bladder.

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Is it possible to get a UTI from your partner?

It’s possible to get a UTI after sexual intercourse with a partner, even if they don’t have a UTI themselves. In this case, the UTI does not actually come from them, but rather the sexual activity may promote the development of a UTI. 

UTIs are not contagious per se. They are not a type of STI. This is why having sex without a barrier method with someone who has an active UTI won’t necessarily cause you to develop one yourself. 

Bacteria like Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) that live in and on your body can be introduced into your urinary tract during sex. This, in turn, may cause a UTI. 

Due to their anatomy, females are more likely to get a UTI during sexual activity. After sex, the number of bacteria in a female’s bladder may increase tenfold. Although rarer, it’s also possible for a male to develop a UTI from having sexual intercourse. 

If bacteria enter and remain in the urethra, it may cause a UTI regardless of your gender or physical anatomy.

The use of binary terms such as “male” and “female” or “men” and “women” in this article reflects the language of the sources we’ve used. Unless otherwise noted, it’s unclear whether the research we reference included participants with expansive gender identities.

Other risk factors for UTIs

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) lists these contributing factors for UTIs:

• using a urinary catheter
• having urinary tract blockages like kidney stones or an enlarged prostate
• living with diabetes
• having compromised immunity
• going through menopause (if you are female)
• using diaphragms or spermicide (if you are female)
• not being able to empty your bladder completely
• living with urinary tract abnormalities, like vesicoureteral reflux 
• having a history of UTIs
• being pregnant

These factors may increase your chances of developing a UTI.

How to prevent UTIs after sex

According to a 2021 study, some ways to reduce your chance of developing a UTI after sexual intercourse with a partner may include:

• urinating soon after sex
• emptying your bladder completely
• wiping from front to back (if you are female)
• maintaining your personal hygiene
• increasing your fluid intake

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UTI symptoms by gender

Symptoms of a UTI are generally the same regardless of gender and may include:

• painful urination (dysuria)
• frequent and urgent need to empty the bladder, even if urine output is low
• difficulty starting urination
• pain in the lower part of your stomach or around your bladder (suprapubic pain)
• blood in the urine (hematuria)

If a UTI worsens or spreads, for example, to your kidneys, symptoms may also include:

• fever
• chills
• nausea
• vomiting 
• back pain
• incontinence
• fatigue (low energy)

UTIs are generally categorized as either complicated or uncomplicated. Most UTIs are considered uncomplicated when they occur in otherwise healthy, non-pregnant people with vaginas and are caused by common bacteria like E. coli.

A complicated UTI is one with a higher risk of treatment failure. These include UTIs in the following populations:

• people with penises
• pregnant people
• immunocompromised people

These cases may need a longer course of antibiotics or more detailed treatment plans.

UTI treatments

Although your body may sometimes get rid of an uncomplicated UTI on its own, particularly with increased hydration, this is not always the case. If you’re at higher risk of a complicated UTI, you should seek treatment right away. 

If you experience any symptoms of a UTI, it’s important to seek treatment from a healthcare professional to prevent complications. For instance, untreated UTIs could eventually lead to:

• incontinence
• kidney inflammation or other health concerns
• recurrent and persistent UTIs
• high blood pressure (hypertension)
• prostatic abscess (in males)
• kidney stones
• kidney infections

Antibiotics treat most UTIs. Different antibiotics treat different bacteria, so it’s essential to see a healthcare professional for the best treatment. Some bacteria are resistant to certain medications, so doctors may make decisions based on what they see from a urine sample. 

UTI medications may involve:

• trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim)
• nitrofurantoin (Macrobid)
• fosfomycin (Monurol)

If a healthcare professional has prescribed you antibiotics for UTIs, it’s important that you finish the entire treatment, even if you feel better before then. 

Summary

While UTIs are more common in females, males can also get them. Sexual activity may introduce bacteria into the urethra regardless of your gender, though it is infinitely more common in people with vaginas.

However, sexual intercourse does not always lead to UTIs, even if one partner has an active infection.  

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