Study will examine connection between STDs and urinary tract infections in men

Indiana University researchers have received a federal grant to investigate the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections (UTIs) in men, as well as their impact on male susceptibility to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), according to the campus's newspaper, the Daily Student.

Using $7 million from the National Institutes of Health, a group of microbiologists at the university will culture bacteria gathered from the urethrae of healthy men and men with STDs, as well as those at risk for infection.

The news source said that the team hopes to plot out the full range of bacterial flora found in the male reproductive system.

Furthermore, they plan to determine whether the microbes that cause UTIs may predispose men to STDs, or vice versa.

Bleeding, a burning sensation or pain experienced while urinating may indicate the presence of gonorrhea, chlamydia or syphilis. Individuals who believe that they have contracted an STD or a UTI may consider investing in online testing services immediately.

More than 19 million Americans have at least one sexual infection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.