Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are infections of any part of the urinary tract, including ureters, bladder, urethra and kidneys. They affect women more than men, but are quite common and highly treatable with medication.¹

A urinary tract infection in women may not have any signs. When signs and symptoms do occur, they often include:²

• Strong urge to urinate that doesn't go away, even after urinating

• Burning sensation while urinating

• Burning sensation after urinating

• Urinating often, and passing small amounts of urine

• Cloudy urine

• Red, bright pink or cola-colored discharge or urine

• Strong-smelling urine

• Pelvic pain

UTIs in women are caused by bacteria in the urethra or the bladder. Common risk factors include:³

• Female anatomy. Women have a shorter urethra than men do, positioned close to the anus. As a result, there's less distance for bacteria to travel to reach the urethra or bladder.

• Certain types of birth control. Using diaphragms or spermicidal agents for birth control may increase the risk of UTIs.

• Perimenopause and menopause. The amount of circulating estrogen drops during perimenopause and menopause. This leads to changes in the bacteria that are typically found in the vagina. These changes can raise the risk of UTIs.

Untreated, a UTI in women can last anywhere from one to six weeks. However, the bacteria can continue to multiply and last for months. The bacteria can also spread from the urethra to the bladder and eventually into the kidneys, so it isn’t recommended to leave any UTI untreated.

With antibiotic treatment, many women will experience relief of symptoms within two days. It is important to take the full prescription of antibiotics to ensure the UTI is fully cleared up. For persistent UTIs, a second round of antibiotics may be needed.⁴

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:⁵

• Fever

• Chills

• Nausea and vomiting

Yes, some women with a UTI will not have any symptoms or will have symptoms that do not include pain.⁶

Risk factors for recurring UTIs (RUTI) include frequent sexual intercourse, failing to urinate after intercourse, wiping back-to-front, tight undergarments and holding urine for long periods of time. Certain conditions can increase risk of RUTIs like diabetes, pregnancy or immunosuppression conditions.⁷

Left untreated, UTIs can cause serious health issues, including:⁸

• Lasting kidney damage: Without treatment, UTIs can spread to the kidneys and damage them. The damage doesn't go away.

• Delivering a low birthweight infant: UTIs during pregnancy can affect the weight of the baby. A UTI also may cause a baby to be born early.

• Narrowing of the urethra in men: Repeated infections can scar the urethra. The scar tissue can make it harder to pass urine.

• Sepsis: This complication of urinary tract infection can be life-threatening. The risk of sepsis is higher if the infection travels up the urinary tract to the kidneys.

Left untreated, the infection can spread from your bladder to your ureters and eventually infect your kidneys.⁹

The time it takes for a UTI to progress into a kidney infection is different with each person. There is no effective way to predict the timeline of a kidney infection. Treating a UTI quickly will help prevent a kidney infection.¹⁰

A urinary tract infection, commonly called a UTI, is an infection of the urinary system, while a yeast infection is a fungal infection that causes itchiness, irritation and a thick, white discharge from the vagina and vulva.¹¹ Learn more on our blog.

Women can greatly decrease their risk of a UTI with prevention habits including:¹²

• Stay well hydrated

• Urinate after sexual activity

• Take showers instead of baths

• Avoid douching, sprays, or powders in the genital area

• Wipe front to back after using the bathroom

Having sex with a UTI is not harmful to either partner. However, many professionals recommend waiting until symptoms have cleared up. Sex with a UTI is likely to be uncomfortable, irritate the area and increase the risk of a second infection.¹³

Foods that are sugary, acidic, alcoholic, caffeinated, highly processed or spicy may irritate the bladder and make UTI symptoms worse.¹⁴

1. Mayo Clinic

2. Cleveland Clinic

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4. Women’s Health

5. Cleveland Clinic

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7. National Library of Health

8. Mayo Clinic

9. Cleveland Clinic

10. WebMD

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12. Prevention.com

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The main treatment for UTIs in women is antibiotics. Commonly prescribed treatment options include:¹⁵

• Cephalexin (Keflex®)

• Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid®)

• Ciprofloxacin (Cipro®)

• Levofloxacin (Levaquin®)

• Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim DS (Bactrim DS®)

• Fosfomycin (Monurol®)

Yes, you can get prescription UTI treatment at home via telehealth services like RedBox Rx. Simply complete a short online assessment and a U.S. licensed provider for your state will review and prescribe UTI medication online, if needed. Your online doctor consultation costs just $39, and if prescribed, medication starts at $20 per treatment.

No, antibiotics that treat UTIs require a prescription.¹⁶ Start an assessment with RedBox Rx today.

Home remedies will not clear up a UTI on their own, but there are ways to help ease symptoms and speed up recovery. These include:

• Avoid alcohol, coffee and other drinks that may irritate your bladder.

• Stay hydrated and empty your bladder often to get rid of bacteria.

• Use a heating pad on your abdomen for cramp relief.

• Wear loose-fitting clothing to avoid trapping bacteria and moisture.

Drinking cranberry juice can help prevent a UTI by helping the body flush out bacteria, but it does not help treat an existing UTI.¹⁷

On average, antibiotics take three to five days to fully treat a UTI. Although you could start to feel better after one day, it is unlikely that the UTI will be cured within 24 hours.¹⁸

Commonly prescribed antibiotics for UTIs include:¹⁹

• Cephalexin (Keflex®)

• Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid®)

• Ciprofloxacin (Cipro®)

• Levofloxacin (Levaquin®)

• Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim DS (Bactrim DS®)

• Fosfomycin (Monurol®)

RedBox Rx offers convenient online doctor consults for just $39, and if prescribed, medication starts at $20 per treatment. Get started today.

Antibiotics for UTIs can have side effects, including:²⁰

• Rash

• Abdominal pain

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Yeast infection

It’s best to avoid alcohol, coffee, citrus juices and other drinks that may irritate the bladder until the infection clears.²¹

A leading medication treatment for the pain and discomfort of UTIs is phenazopyridine (Pyridium®). Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) can also be used for pain relief.²²

Average time for antibiotics to cure a UTI is three to five days.²³

Chronic or recurring UTI treatment options include:

• Diagnosing and treating yourself when symptoms occur (self-start therapy). During self-start therapy, patients need to stay in contact with their healthcare provider.

• Taking a single dose of an antibiotic after sex, particularly if UTIs seem to happen after sexual activity.

• Using low-dose antibiotics for six months or longer.

Overuse of antibiotics also can lead to side effects and antibiotic resistance, so it is best to focus on UTI prevention.²⁴

Yes! With RedBox Rx, you can connect online with a U.S. licensed medical provider for UTI treatment. If antibiotics are prescribed, they can be shipped directly to you or you can select your local pharmacy for pickup.

15. Mayo Clinic

16. Prevention.com

17. Prevention.com

18. National Health Service

19. Mayo Clinic

20. National Library of Medicine

21. Mayo Clinic

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23. National Health Service

24. Mayo Clinic

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