How To Treat UTIs

What Is a UTI?

A UTI is an infection of your urinary tract — the organs involved in making and storing urine (pee). The most common cause of a UTI is a bacterial infection. The bacteria that is most often responsible for a UTI is called Escherichia coli (E. coli). Normally, E. coli is found in your intestines (guts) and anus.

If bacteria, like E. coli, infect any part of your urinary tract, it can cause uncomfortable symptoms, like a frequent and urgent need to pee and burning when you pee. If left untreated, the infection can spread further up your urinary tract to your kidneys, where it can cause permanent kidney damage.

Your healthcare provider may classify your UTI as either simple or complicated based on the likelihood of causing complications. A simple UTI occurs in people who are otherwise healthy with no differences in their urinary tract. Most women have simple UTIs.

A complicated UTI has an increased risk of complications and occurs in people with differences in their urinary tract. Most UTIs in men, pregnant women, and people with chronic medical conditions are considered complicated.

How Is a UTI Treated?

UTIs are treated with antibiotics — medications that help your body kill bacteria. Antibiotics work by stopping bacteria from growing and dividing or by directly killing the bacterial cells.

There are several different types of antibiotics that can be effective against bacteria that commonly cause UTIs. Before prescribing an antibiotic to treat your UTI, your healthcare provider will consider several factors, including:

Your healthcare provider may perform a laboratory test called a urine culture and antibiotic sensitivity test to find out which bacteria is causing the infection and which antibiotics will work best.

Which Antibiotics Are Used To Treat a Simple UTI?

There are several antibiotics your healthcare provider may prescribe to treat your UTI. We’ll review a few of the most common antibiotics used to treat UTIs. Your healthcare provider may prescribe a different type of antibiotic to treat your UTI.

No matter which antibiotic you’re prescribed, it’s important that you follow your healthcare provider’s instructions exactly. Do not stop your antibiotic early, even if you feel better. If you stop taking an antibiotic before it’s finished, it can lead to antibiotic resistance.

How Is a Complicated UTI Treated?

As the name suggests, treating a complicated UTI is, indeed, more complicated than a simple UTI. A complicated UTI may be treated in a similar way as a simple UTI. However, a complicated UTI usually requires more testing and a longer course of antibiotics compared to a simple UTI. Talk to your healthcare provider to find out if your UTI is considered simple or complicated.

In some cases, you may need to stay in the hospital to receive antibiotics directly into your vein (intravenously) to treat a complicated UTI. You may also need more supportive care if your UTI causes severe illness.

In the hospital, you may start with an antibiotic that kills many different types of bacteria (called a broad-spectrum antibiotic) until the results of the urine culture and sensitivity tests reveal which antibiotic will work best to treat your UTI. Examples of antibiotics you may receive intravenously (IV) in the hospital for a UTI include:

How Are UTI Symptoms Treated?

After you begin antibiotic treatment for a UTI, you may still have symptoms for a few days while the antibiotics help kill the bacteria that are causing your symptoms. While you’re waiting for the antibiotics to do their job, there are some things you can do to help your symptoms.

Phenazopyridine

Phenazopyridine (also known under the brand name Azo) is a urinary pain reliever that can help with the burning and pain associated with UTIs. Your healthcare provider may recommend that you take phenazopyridine only until your symptoms begin to improve — you don’t need to keep taking it the whole time you’re taking your antibiotic.

Side effects of phenazopyridine may include:

Heating Pad

A heating pad can help ease some of the discomfort and pain associated with a UTI. Adding heat can help the muscles in your bladder relax and promote blood flow.

To safely use a heating pad, make sure you don’t apply the heat directly to your skin. Use a barrier (like a towel) between your skin and the heating pad to avoid burns. It’s also important to make sure you don’t fall asleep while using a heating pad. Never use a heating pad on broken or damaged skin.

Drink Plenty of Fluids

When you have a UTI, it’s important to drink plenty of water or other clear fluids. When you drink enough water, it helps to dilute your urine and flush out some of the bacteria from your urinary tract.

While you have a UTI, you should be aware that some drinks may actually worsen your symptoms by irritating your bladder. Examples of drinks that can cause bladder irritation include:

Consider limiting your intake of these drinks to help improve your symptoms while you’re treating a UTI.

When Should You Call Your Healthcare Provider During Treatment?

If your UTI symptoms don’t improve within a day or two of starting treatment, call your healthcare provider to let them know. This may mean that your treatment isn’t working, and you need a different antibiotic. Symptoms of a worsening UTI may include fever, back pain, and vomiting.

If you notice any new or worsening symptoms or medication side effects, you should call your healthcare provider right away. A potentially serious side effect of all antibiotics is an infection by a type of bacteria called Clostridioides difficile (C. diff).

C. diff can cause diarrhea and colon inflammation. If you develop a C. diff infection from taking antibiotics, symptoms usually start within a few days after you start antibiotic treatment. Symptoms may include:

7 Tips for Preventing a UTI

It may not always be possible to prevent a UTI but following these 7 tips may help you change some habits and prevent future UTIs.

1. Use Good Hygiene Practices

One of the best ways to prevent UTIs is by using good hygiene practices. The most important hygiene practice is wiping from front to back after having a bowel movement (pooping). If you wipe from back to front, you could be introducing E. coli from your anus to your urinary tract. Wiping from front to back helps to ensure this doesn’t happen.

It’s also important to avoid products that may irritate your urethra, which may make you more prone to getting a UTI. Examples of possible irritants include:

Instead of using products that may cause irritation, use just plain water to clean your genitals.

2. Stay Hydrated

When you drink enough water, it helps to flush out bacteria in your urinary tract. You can tell if you’re well-hydrated if your urine is light yellow to clear colored.

It’s recommended to drink about 6 to 8 glasses of water each day. However, this recommendation may be different for you based on your body weight and medical conditions. Talk to your healthcare provider about how much water you should drink each day.

3. Don’t Hold Your Pee

If you’re staying hydrated, you may have to pee more often. It’s important that you don’t hold your urine because it can give bacteria a chance to replicate and grow in your urinary tract. When you pee often, it helps to flush out any bacteria in your urinary tract.

4. Practice Good Sexual Hygiene

Sexual activity can introduce E. coli to your urinary tract. If you empty your bladder before sex and as soon as possible after sex, it can help flush out any bacteria that may have made it to your urinary tract during sex.

Additional tips to prevent UTIs from sexual activity include:

5. Try a Different Birth Control Method

Women may be more likely to develop a UTI if they use a diaphragm or spermicide as birth control. Talk to your healthcare provider about alternative birth control methods if you develop a UTI.

6. Wear Breathable Clothing

If you wear clothing that’s too tight, it can promote a moist environment that encourages bacterial growth. Cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothes can help moisture to evaporate and keep you dry.

7. Ask Your Healthcare Provider About Medications

Some medications may be able to help prevent UTIs in certain circumstances.

If you’re a woman who’s gone through menopause, vaginal estrogen therapy may help prevent vaginal irritation that can increase your risk of UTIs. Talk to your healthcare provider to find out if vaginal estrogen therapy can help you prevent UTIs.

Taking a supplement (like cranberry extract) or probiotics (such as lactobacillus) may also help prevent UTIs from returning. You should talk to your healthcare provider before you begin any new supplement or probiotic to make sure it’s safe for you to take.