Cystitis is inflammation of the bladder, usually caused by a urinary tract infection (UTI). Some men may not have any symptoms, but when symptoms do occur, they include:

• Pain or burning when urinating,
• a frequent urge to urinate, even if only small amounts.

Who Gets Cystitis?

• Young men rarely get true cystitis. If they do, it may suggest there’s something unusual about the urinary system – such as a bladder pouch or diverticulum or a bladder stone – that allows germs (bacteria) to grow. Sometimes, young men think they have cystitis when the real cause of pain is urethritis, which is  inflammation of the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body). Urethritis is often caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea.
• Older men, especially those over 50, are more likely to develop cystitis. This is often due to an enlarged prostate, which can prevent the bladder from emptying fully. When urine stays in the bladder, bacteria can grow and lead to infection.

What You Can Do

• If urinating is painful, the best step is to visit a genitourinary medicine clinic (or a urologist). These clinics can text for STIs (like chlamydia or gonorrhoea) and perform a urine test to check for a bladder infection. You can also see your primary care provider.
• If a urine infection is confirmed, antibiotics will be prescribed.
• If the infection comes back, you may need further tests to check your urinary system, including your kidneys. This may involve  an X-ray, an ultrasound, or an intravenous urogram (IVU).

First published on embarrassingproblems.com
Reviewed and edited by Dr Diane K. Newman
Last updated: July 2025 by Dr Diane K. Newman