What is a urinary tract infection?
- Most common type
- Bladder infection (cystitis)
- Usual cause
- Bacteria, most often E. coli
- Typical treatment
- A short course of antibiotics
- Contagious?
- No, although sex can raise the risk
Your urinary tract is the system that makes and removes urine: the kidneys, the ureters, the bladder and the urethra. A UTI happens when bacteria, most often E. coli from the bowel, get into the urethra and multiply.
Most UTIs stay in the bladder. This is called cystitis, and it is very common and usually straightforward to treat. Less often, the infection travels up to the kidneys (pyelonephritis). That is more serious and needs prompt, often in-person, care.
Women get UTIs far more often than men because the urethra is shorter and sits closer to the anus, so bacteria have a shorter distance to travel.
UTI symptoms to watch for
Bladder infection symptoms usually come on over a few hours to a day. You may have one or several of these:
- Burning or stinging when you urinate
- Needing to go often, but passing only a little
- A sudden, hard-to-hold urge to urinate
- Pressure, cramping or aching above the pubic bone
- Cloudy or strong-smelling urine
- Pink, red or brown-tinged urine
Signs the infection may have reached your kidneys
Get same-day in-person care if bladder symptoms come with any of these:
- Fever or shaking chills
- Pain in your side or back, just below the ribs
- Nausea or vomiting
NoteVaginal discharge, itching or sores point to something other than a simple UTI, such as a yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis or an STI. Mention them in your visit so your provider can consider other causes. In older adults, a UTI can sometimes show up as new confusion rather than urinary symptoms.
What makes a UTI more likely
Anyone can get a UTI, but some things make it easier for bacteria to reach or stay in the bladder:
- Sexual activity
- Sex can push bacteria toward the urethra, especially with a new partner.
- Spermicides and diaphragms
- These can change the normal balance of bacteria near the urethra.
- Menopause
- Lower estrogen changes vaginal and urethral tissue and its protective bacteria.
- Not emptying your bladder
- Holding urine for long periods, or a bladder that doesn't empty fully, gives bacteria time to grow.
- Blockages
- Kidney stones or an enlarged prostate can slow the flow of urine.
- Catheters
- A urinary catheter gives bacteria a direct path into the bladder.
- Diabetes
- It changes how the urinary tract and immune system respond to bacteria.
- Previous UTIs
- Having had one makes another more likely, particularly within the following months.
How a UTI is diagnosed
For many otherwise healthy women with typical bladder symptoms, a provider can diagnose a UTI from symptoms and health history alone. This is why online care works well for straightforward cases.
In your PulseCareMD visit, you'll answer questions about your symptoms, how long you've had them, past UTIs, allergies and current medications. A licensed provider reviews your answers and decides whether treatment is appropriate or whether you need more evaluation.
How UTIs are treated
A bacterial bladder infection is treated with antibiotics. For uncomplicated bladder infections, guidelines favor short courses of antibiotics that work well against common UTI bacteria while limiting side effects and resistance.
Your provider chooses the right treatment based on your allergies, medical history and other medications.
Feeling better while treatment works
- Take every dose, even once you feel better
- Drink enough water to keep your urine pale
- Go when you feel the urge instead of holding it
- Over-the-counter phenazopyridine can ease burning for up to 2 days. It turns urine orange and does not treat the infection.
- Contact a provider if you aren't improving after 2–3 days of antibiotics, or sooner if you get worse
Is an online UTI visit right for you?
Online care is often a good fit if you:
- Are an adult woman with typical UTI symptoms
- Have typical bladder symptoms like burning, frequency or urgency
- Have no fever, back pain or vomiting
- Have had a UTI before and recognize the feeling
Your provider may recommend testing or in-person care if you:
- Are male, or seeking care for a child
- Have signs of a kidney infection
- Get frequent UTIs or were treated recently
- Have a catheter, kidney disease or a weakened immune system
How PulseCareMD can help with a UTI
A PulseCareMD visit connects you with a licensed provider without a trip to a clinic. Your visit fee is shown before you start, and it covers your consultation.
Start your UTI visit
Answer a short questionnaire about your symptoms and health history from your phone or computer.
A provider reviews it
A licensed provider checks that your symptoms fit a simple bladder infection. Many visits are reviewed within 2–3 hours.
Get your care plan
If treatment is appropriate, your provider will explain your plan. If not, you'll be told what to do next.
Lowering your chances of another UTI
Not every UTI can be prevented, but these habits have the best support:
Drink more water
In women who drink little fluid, increasing daily water intake reduced repeat bladder infections in a clinical trial.
Urinate after sex
Commonly recommended to help flush bacteria away from the urethra.
Don't hold it
Empty your bladder regularly and fully.
Consider cranberry products
A large review found they may lower the risk of repeat UTIs in women who get them often. They don't treat an active infection.
Frequently asked questions
When to get emergency care
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have UTI symptoms along with:
- High fever with shaking chills
- Severe pain in your back or side
- Vomiting that stops you keeping down fluids or medication
- Confusion, dizziness or feeling faint