Midlife Flow Problems

URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS (UTIs) can become more common in both men and women at midlife.

- Susan Ince

Understanding how your age changes your risk and the best treatments can bring relief. Often men get a urinary tract infection for the first time in their 50s, usually because of a kidney stone or an enlarged prostate, says Dr N. Subramanian, urologist, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi. A growing prostate compresses the urethra, causing a weak urine stream, the need to pee frequently and a dribble after a void. If the bladder doesn’t completely empty, the reservoir of urine can become infected.

Some 5 to 10 per cent of men who have an enlarged prostate experience repeat UTIs. Medication can relax muscles in the gland or shrink it so urine can pass easily. Minimally invasive procedures (usually endoscopic) to relieve blockage or pressure also help, he says. While blocked pipes can cause UTIs in men, weakened pipe linings contribute to women’s increased risk.