A urinary tract infection is a very common type of infection in your urinary system. It can involve any part of your urinary system. Bacteria — especially E. coli — are the most common cause of UTIs. Symptoms include needing to pee often, pain while peeing and pain in your side or lower back. Antibiotics can treat most UTIs.
What is a urinary tract infection (UTI)?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of your urinary system. This type of infection can involve your:
- Urethra (urethritis).
- Kidneys (pyelonephritis).
- Bladder (cystitis).
Urine (pee) is a byproduct of your blood-filtering system, which your kidneys perform. Your kidneys create pee when they remove waste products and excess water from your blood. Pee usually moves through your urinary system without any contamination. However, bacteria can get into your urinary system, which can cause UTIs.The urinary tract makes and stores pee. It includes your:
Kidneys. Kidneys are small, bean-shaped organs on the back of your body, above your hips. Most people have two kidneys. They filter water and waste products from your blood, which becomes pee. Common wastes include urea and creatinine.
Ureters. Your ureters are thin tubes that carry pee from your kidneys to your bladder.
Bladder. Your bladder is a balloon-like organ that stores pee before it leaves your body.
Urethra. The urethra is a tube that carries pee from your bladder to the outside of your body.
How common are urinary tract infections?
UTIs are very common, especially in women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB). About 20% of people AFAB will have a UTI at some point during their lives. Men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB) can also get UTIs, as well as children, though they only affect 1% to 2% of children. Healthcare providers treat 8 million to 10 million people each year for UTIs.
Symptoms and Causes
What are the signs of a urinary tract infection?
A UTI causes inflammation in the lining of your urinary tract. The inflammation may cause the following problems:
- Pain in your flank, abdomen, pelvic area or lower back.
- Pressure in the lower part of your pelvis.
- Cloudy, foul-smelling pee.
- Urinary incontinence.
- Frequent urination.
- Urge incontinence.
- Pain when you pee (dysuria).
- Blood in your pee (hematuria).
Other UTI-associated symptoms may include:
- Pain in your penis.
- Feeling extremely tired (fatigue).
- Fever.
- Chills.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Mental changes or confusion.
How do you get a urinary tract infection?
Microorganisms — usually bacteria — cause urinary tract infections. They typically enter through your urethra and may infect your bladder. The infection can also travel up from your bladder through your ureters and eventually infect your kidneys.
What is the major cause of a urinary tract infection?
E. coli cause more than 90% of bladder infections. E. coli typically exist in your lower intestines (large intestine).
Who is at the greatest risk of getting a urinary tract infection?
Anyone can get a urinary tract infection, but you are more likely to get a UTI if you have a vagina. This is because the urethra in people AFAB is shorter and closer to the anus, where E. coli bacteria are common.
Can you get a UTI from fingers?
Yes, it is possible to get a UTI from your fingers. Your hands can pick up bacteria and other microorganisms whenever you touch a surface. You can accidentally introduce bacteria to your urethra when you go to the bathroom or during sexual acts, including masturbation or fingering.
It is a good idea to wash your hands before and after going to the bathroom or having sex.
Diagnosis and Tests
How do you know if you have a UTI?
If you have symptoms of a urinary tract infection, talk to a healthcare provider. They will ask questions about your symptoms, review your medical history and conduct a physical examination. They can also order tests to help confirm a diagnosis.
What tests will be done to diagnose a urinary tract infection?
A healthcare provider may order the following tests to diagnose a UTI:
Urinalysis. During this test, you will pee into a special cup. The provider will send the sample to a laboratory, where technicians will examine it for signs of a UTI using multiple variables such as nitrites, leukocyte esterase and white blood cells.
Urine culture. You will pee into a special cup, and lab technicians will test your sample to grow and identify any bacteria that are present. Urine cultures are important because they help your provider determine the most appropriate treatment.
If your infection does not respond to treatment, a provider may order the following tests to examine your urinary tract for a disease or injury:
Ultrasound. An ultrasound is an imaging test that helps your provider look at your internal organs. An ultrasound is painless and does not require any preparation.
Computed tomography (CT) scan. A CT scan is another imaging test. It is a type of X-ray that takes cross-section images of your body — like slices — that create 3D images of the inside of your body. A CT scan is more precise than a standard X-ray.
Cystoscopy. A cystoscopy uses a cystoscope to look inside your bladder through your urethra. A cystoscope is a thin instrument with a lens and a light at the end.
If you get UTIs frequently, a healthcare provider may perform tests to check for other health issues — such as diabetes or an abnormal urinary system — that may contribute to your infections.
Management and Treatment
What is the best thing to do for a urinary tract infection?
The best thing to do for a urinary tract infection is to see a healthcare provider. You need antibiotics to treat a UTI. Your provider will select an antibiotic that works best against the bacteria responsible for your infection.
Once you get a prescription for antibiotics, it is very important that you follow the directions for taking them. Be sure to take the full course of antibiotics, even if your symptoms go away and you start feeling better. If you do not finish all your medicine, the infection can return and be more challenging to treat.
If you get UTIs a lot, a provider may recommend that you take antibiotics:
- Every day.
- Every other day.
- After sex.
- At the first sign of symptoms.
Talk to a provider about your best treatment option if you have a history of frequent UTIs.
What specific antibiotics are used to treat a urinary tract infection?
Healthcare providers commonly prescribe the following antibiotics to treat UTIs:
- Nitrofurantoin.
- Sulfonamides (sulfa drugs), such as sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim.
- Amoxicillin.
- Cephalosporins, such as cephalexin.
- Doxycycline.
- Fosfomycin.
Quinolones, such as ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin.
If you get UTIs often, a healthcare provider may give you low-dose antibiotics for a short time to prevent the infection from coming back. The provider may recommend this cautious approach to treat frequent UTIs because your body can develop resistance to the antibiotic, and you can get other types of infections, including C. diff colitis. This practice is not very common.
Can I become immune to the antibiotics used to treat a UTI?
Sort of. Every time you use antibiotics to treat a UTI, the infection adapts and can become harder to fight (antibiotic resistance). But the infection becomes immune to the antibiotics, not you. Antibiotics may not always be the best solution. As a result, a healthcare provider may suggest alternative treatments if you get frequent urinary tract infections. These may include:
Waiting. Your provider may suggest a “watch and wait” approach to your symptoms. During this time, it is a good idea to drink plenty of fluids (especially water) to help flush out your system.
Intravenous (IV) treatment. In some complicated cases, a UTI may be resistant to antibiotics, or the infection may move to your kidneys. You may need treatment at a hospital, where providers will give you medicine through a needle they insert into a vein, usually in your arm (intravenously). Once you return home, you may need to take oral antibiotics for a period to rid yourself of the infection completely.
Does cranberry juice prevent a urinary tract infection?
Cranberry juice that you can buy at the grocery store does not prevent a UTI. However, cranberry extract supplements (vitamin pills) may decrease your chances of getting a UTI.
If you get UTIs often, methenamine hippurate is another nonantibiotic alternative that helps prevent infections.
Can a UTI go away on its own?
Minor urinary tract infections can sometimes get better on their own. However, most UTIs need antibiotics to go away. You absolutely need antibiotics if you have a UTI as well as:
A fever.
Chills.
Nausea and vomiting.
How soon after treatment will I feel better?
Most people feel better within a few days after starting antibiotics to treat a UTI.
Prevention
Can I prevent a urinary tract infection?
The following lifestyle changes can help prevent urinary tract infections:
Practice good hygiene
Practicing good hygiene is one of the best ways to help prevent UTIs. This is especially important if you have a vagina because your urethra is much shorter, and it is easier for E. coli to move from your rectum back into your body. Always wipe from front to back after a bowel movement (pooping) to avoid this.
During your menstrual cycle, it is also a good idea to regularly change your period products, including pads and tampons. You should also avoid using any deodorants on your vagina.
Drink plenty of fluids
Drinking extra fluids — especially water — each day can help flush out bacteria from your urinary tract. Healthcare providers recommend drinking six to eight glasses of water daily.
Change your peeing habits
Peeing can play a big role in getting rid of bacteria from your body. Your pee is a waste product, and each time you empty your bladder, you help remove that waste from your body.
Peeing frequently can reduce your risk of developing an infection, especially if you get UTIs a lot.
You should also try to pee right before and right after having sex. Sex can introduce bacteria to your urethra, and peeing before and after sex helps flush it out. If you can not pee, wash the area with warm water.
Change your birth control
Some people have an increased risk of developing a UTI if they use a diaphragm for birth control. Talk to a healthcare provider about other birth control options.
Use a water-based lubricant during sex
If you use lubricant during sex, make sure it is water-based. You should also avoid spermicide if you have frequent UTIs.
Change your clothing
Tight-fitting clothing can create a moist environment, which promotes bacterial growth. You can try loose-fitting clothing and cotton underwear to prevent moisture from accumulating around your urethra.
Medications
If you are postmenopausal, a healthcare provider may suggest a vaginal cream that contains estrogen. These creams may help reduce your risk of developing a UTI by changing the pH of your vagina. Talk to a healthcare provider if you are postmenopausal and get a lot of UTIs.
Over-the-counter (OTC) supplements — including cranberry extract and probiotics — may also help prevent UTIs. Talk to a healthcare provider before you start taking any supplements.
