Are there other signs I need to see a doctor?

Sometimes the symptoms of a UTI can be similar to other conditions, such as

• A sexually transmitted infection, eg. Chlamydia
• Diabetes (passing larger amounts of urine than normal & excessive thirst)
• Kidney stones (spasms of pain in the back or groin)
• Kidney infection (fever/chills, flu-like-symptoms, tummy pain, back pain)
• Thrush (itchy vulva, sometimes a discharge or odour)
• Recurrent UTI (3 or more UTIs in 1 year).

…if you’re worried it could be any of these things, it is best to see a doctor in person.

What is the treatment for a UTI?

For a straightforward UTI, usually an antibiotic will be prescribed by your doctor (subject to an appropriate assessment).  It is also advisable to take plenty of fluids. If symptoms aren’t improving within 2 days of starting treatment, it is important to see a doctor in person, to see if a different antibiotic may be needed, and to get checked for any other conditions or underlying causes. 

What if the antibiotic is not working?

If the antibiotic is not leading to improvement within 2 days, there could be a number of explanations:

• most commonly, it means the bacteria causing the infection are resistant to the first antibiotic- an different antibiotic may be needed, Your doctor may need to send a urine sample to the lab, to get tested.
• something else may be going on- such as an STI (sexually transmitted infection), thrush, kidney stones – your doctor will need to examine you and may need to arrange some further tests.

How do I reduce the chances of getting another UTI?

Women may be able to reduce the chances of getting further UTIs by:

• Always wiping front to back after passing urine
• Passing urine immediately after having sex
• Avoiding vaginal deodorant sprays
• Wearing cotton underwear
• Drinking plenty of water