While a mild UTI can occasionally clear up without treatment, most need antibiotics. An untreated UTI can spread to your kidneys and land you in the hospital. If you have symptoms, the safest thing to do is to get treated with antibiotics.
What a UTI actually is
A urinary tract infection happens when bacteria get into your urinary tract, usually your bladder. Common signs include:
- Burning when you pee
- Feeling like you need to pee all the time, even right after you went
- Cloudy, dark or strong-smelling pee
- Pressure or pain in your lower belly
Why waiting it out is risky
While you wait, the infection can travel up to your kidneys. A kidney infection is more serious and can make you really sick. Get care in person if you have:
Need antibiotics for your UTI?
- Fever or chills
- Pain in your back or side, below your ribs
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blood in your pee
If you're pregnant, don't wait at all. UTIs during pregnancy should always be treated.
What about cranberry juice and drinking water?
Drinking plenty of water helps flush your system, and it's a good habit for preventing UTIs. Cranberry products may help some people prevent UTIs, but they won't treat one you already have.
Why UTIs are so common for women
Women get UTIs much more often than men, mostly because of anatomy. The urethra, the tube pee comes out of, is shorter and sits close to the vagina and anus, so bacteria have a shorter trip to the bladder. Things that can raise your chances include:
- Sex, especially with a new partner
- Holding your pee for a long time
- Not drinking enough water
- Spermicides and some types of birth control, like diaphragms
- Hormonal changes, including pregnancy and menopause
What treatment looks like
Most UTIs are treated with a short course of antibiotics prescribed by a provider. Many people start feeling better within a day or two, but take every dose, even if you feel fine. Stopping early can let the infection come back. Over-the-counter pain relievers made for urinary pain can ease burning while the antibiotics work, but they don't treat the infection itself.
How to lower your chances of getting another UTI
- Pee soon after sex
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day
- Don't hold it when you need to go
- Wipe front to back
- Skip scented soaps, douches and sprays down there
- Choose breathable, cotton underwear
If UTIs keep coming back
Getting two or more UTIs in six months, or three or more in a year, is considered recurring. You're not doing anything wrong, and it's more common than you might think. Talk to a provider about what's triggering them and whether a different treatment or prevention plan makes sense for you.
