Urinary Tract Infections
What is Urinary Tract Infections?
A urinary tract infection, often called a UTI, happens when bacteria enter your urinary system and multiply. Your urinary system includes your kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra. Most UTIs affect the lower urinary tract, which means the bladder and urethra.
UTIs are one of the most common infections in the United States. Women get them more often than men because they have a shorter urethra. This makes it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder. Most UTIs are caused by E. coli bacteria that normally live in your digestive system.
While UTIs are usually easy to treat, they can become serious if bacteria spread to your kidneys. Getting tested and treated early helps prevent complications. Regular screening can catch signs of infection before symptoms become severe.
Symptoms
- Burning sensation when urinating
- Strong, frequent urge to urinate
- Passing small amounts of urine frequently
- Cloudy or strong-smelling urine
- Blood in urine, making it pink, red, or brown
- Pelvic pain in women, especially around the pubic bone
- Pain or pressure in the lower abdomen or back
- Feeling tired or shaky
- Fever or chills if infection reaches kidneys
Some people, especially older adults, may have a UTI with few or no typical symptoms. They might only notice confusion, fatigue, or behavior changes.
Concerned about Urinary Tract Infections? Check your levels.
Screen for 1,200+ health conditions
Causes and risk factors
UTIs happen when bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra and begin growing in the bladder. Sexual activity can introduce bacteria into the urinary tract. Certain types of birth control, like diaphragms or spermicide, increase UTI risk. Not drinking enough water makes it harder to flush bacteria out of your system. Holding urine for too long gives bacteria more time to multiply.
Women face higher risk due to anatomy, especially after menopause when lower estrogen changes the urinary tract. People with diabetes have weakened immune systems that struggle to fight infections. Kidney stones or an enlarged prostate can block urine flow and trap bacteria. Using catheters or having urinary tract abnormalities also raises your risk. A history of UTIs makes you more likely to get them again.
How it's diagnosed
Doctors diagnose UTIs by analyzing a urine sample for bacteria, white blood cells, and red blood cells. A urine culture identifies the specific bacteria causing the infection. This helps your doctor choose the right antibiotic. Blood tests can detect occult blood, which may signal a urinary tract infection along with other urinary system issues.
Rite Aid offers blood testing that includes occult blood screening as part of our annual testing service. Our tests use the Quest Diagnostics lab network with locations nationwide. If you have recurrent UTIs, imaging tests like ultrasounds or CT scans may help find underlying problems. Your doctor might also use a cystoscopy to look inside your bladder and urethra.
Treatment options
- Antibiotics prescribed by your doctor, usually for 3 to 7 days
- Drink plenty of water to help flush bacteria from your urinary system
- Urinate frequently and completely empty your bladder each time
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods that can irritate your bladder
- Use a heating pad on your lower abdomen to ease pain and pressure
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen for discomfort
- Wipe from front to back after using the bathroom
- Urinate soon after sexual activity to flush out bacteria
- Consider cranberry products, though evidence is mixed on effectiveness
- For recurrent UTIs, your doctor may prescribe low-dose antibiotics long-term
Concerned about Urinary Tract Infections? Get tested at Rite Aid.
- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
Most UTIs are caused by E. coli bacteria from your digestive tract entering your urinary system. Sexual activity, poor bathroom hygiene, holding urine too long, and not drinking enough water all increase your risk. Women are more prone to UTIs because of their shorter urethra, which makes it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder.
Common signs include a burning feeling when you urinate, needing to urinate often, and passing only small amounts. Your urine may look cloudy, smell strong, or contain blood. You might also feel pelvic pain or pressure in your lower abdomen. If you have these symptoms, see a doctor for testing.
Yes, blood tests can detect occult blood, which may indicate a UTI along with other urinary conditions. However, the main test for diagnosing a UTI is a urine sample that checks for bacteria and white blood cells. Your doctor may order both urine and blood tests to get a full picture of your urinary health.
Most people feel better within 1 to 2 days of starting antibiotics. However, you need to finish the entire prescription, usually 3 to 7 days. Stopping early can allow bacteria to return and become resistant to antibiotics. If symptoms do not improve after 2 days, contact your doctor.
Yes, several steps can reduce your risk. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to flush bacteria from your system. Urinate when you need to and do not hold it for long periods. Wipe from front to back after using the bathroom and urinate soon after sex to clear bacteria from the urethra.
Untreated UTIs can become serious and spread to your kidneys, causing a kidney infection. Kidney infections can lead to permanent kidney damage or sepsis, a life-threatening blood infection. See a doctor right away if you have UTI symptoms plus fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, or back pain.
Women have a shorter urethra than men, so bacteria have less distance to travel to reach the bladder. The urethra opening is also closer to the anus, making it easier for bacteria to enter. Hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause also affect the urinary tract and increase infection risk.
While drinking water and cranberry products may help with mild symptoms, antibiotics are usually needed to clear the infection. Home remedies alone cannot eliminate the bacteria causing most UTIs. Untreated infections can worsen and spread to your kidneys, so it is important to see a doctor for proper treatment.
Common antibiotics include trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, nitrofurantoin, and fosfomycin for uncomplicated UTIs. Your doctor chooses the antibiotic based on the bacteria found in your urine culture. For recurrent UTIs, low-dose antibiotics may be prescribed for several months as prevention.
Stress itself does not directly cause UTIs, but it can weaken your immune system and make you more vulnerable to infections. Certain foods and drinks like caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods can irritate your bladder but do not cause infections. Not drinking enough water is a dietary factor that increases UTI risk by reducing how often you flush bacteria from your system.