More than seven in 10 men in the UK do not believe urinary tract infections (UTIs) are painful, despite the fact they led to more than 800,000 hospital admissions across the country between 2018 and 2023.
UTIs cause a severe burning sensation when urinating and can cause constant pain or pressure in the lower abdomen. If severe or left untreated, they can develop into kidney infections or even sepsis.
Women are 30 times more at risk of this nasty infection, but men can also contract this nasty infection.
However, research by medical testing brand Newfoundland Diagnostics shows that 71 percent of people with UTIs do not think it is painful.
More than seven in ten men in the UK do not believe urinary tract infections are painful
Experts say this is one reason why women are embarrassed to seek medical help for the condition and fear ‘wasting’ the NHS’s time.
“You should not underestimate urinary tract infections,” explains GP Hilary Jones.
‘Although UTIs are often considered a common infection that disproportionately affects women, if left untreated they can lead to serious kidney infections and even life-threatening blood infections.
“We must all do our best to take even the most common infections seriously and show empathy for the experiences of others.”
The survey also found that 40 percent of women say doctors have accused them of exaggerating the pain of their UTI.
While women are more than 30 times more likely to suffer from it, men can also develop unpleasant symptoms
Although most cases can be treated with antibiotics, in some cases serious complications can occur.
Older people are at greater risk of being admitted to hospital for urinary tract infections. In addition, they are more likely to experience behavioral changes as a symptom, such as agitation or confusion.
Data from the NHS and the UK’s Health Security Agency showed that between 2018 and 2023 there were more than 1.8 million hospital admissions for urinary tract infections, most of which were in patients over the age of 65. Around 800,000 were a direct result of the infection.
As part of the campaign to raise awareness of UTIs, Newfoundland Diagnostics is launching its own self-test kit, which will soon be available from pharmacies in the UK.
