Can you have a UTI without knowing it?

Key takeaways

• Usually, UTI symptoms show up quite quickly once bacteria enter your urinary tract. But in some cases, you might not see symptoms at all, known as a silent UTI or asymptomatic bacteriuria.
• Asymptomatic bacteriuria doesn’t typically develop into a symptomatic UTI, and it often doesn’t need treatment — unless you’re pregnant.
• Symptomatic UTIs can also go away on their own, but if they don’t, they’ll likely require treatment with antibiotics.

Overview

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) happen when bacteria enter your urinary tract and typically cause uncomfortable symptoms, such as an increased urge to pee and burning or pain. They’re typically unpleasant conditions with noticeable symptoms, but it is also possible to have a UTI without knowing it.

In some cases, bacteria can enter your urine without causing any symptoms. These are often known as silent UTIs. These may require a slightly different approach to traditional UTIs. They don’t typically need treatment, but there are some exceptions to be aware of.

————–

Need a diagnosis or prescription for UTI? You can get discreet and expert on-demand care in as little as 15 minutes through Optum Perks. For $39, answer a few questions online and get a treatment plan from a US-licensed healthcare professional. Get started here.

How long can you have a UTI without knowing it?

When bacteria enter your urinary tract (the part of your body responsible for producing urine, including your urethra, bladder, and kidneys), it typically causes uncomfortable symptoms, including:

• burning or pain when you pee
• a frequent urge to pee
• bloody or cloudy urine
• abdominal pain
• fever (in more severe cases)

Bacteria can enter your urinary tract in different ways, but it commonly happens after sexual intercourse or due to an improper wiping technique after going to the bathroom. Symptoms often show up quickly after the bacteria enter your urinary tract — typically within about 1 to 2 days.

If you have a UTI, you’ll usually know about it quite quickly, and the symptoms are often distinctive and hard to ignore. But it is possible for bacteria to enter your urinary tract without causing any symptoms.

In these cases, you can have the UTI for a very long time without noticing, and the UTI is only diagnosed if you get a urine test.

Medical perspectives

“If you think you have a UTI, such as burning when you urinate, needing to urinate often, or new lower belly pain, contact your healthcare professional so that you can be checked and treated if needed. While you are waiting, drink enough fluids to stay well-hydrated, and seek urgent care right away if you have a fever, back pain, or vomiting.”

— Stan Saji, PharmD, RPh, MBA

Note: Quotes represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

What is asymptomatic bacteriuria?

The medical term for a UTI without any symptoms is asymptomatic bacteriuria. By definition, this condition doesn’t tend to cause symptoms, and the majority of cases don’t go on to develop symptoms. The chances of developing this condition increase with age, as high as 40% to 50% after age 80.

This condition is difficult to diagnose because people are usually unaware that they have it, but it may be caught at a routine urine test. The criteria for diagnosing asymptomatic bacteriuria are two consecutive urine tests that are positive for bacteria.

It’s unclear why some UTIs don’t cause symptoms, but asymptomatic UTIs are not typically considered to be dangerous. In fact, doctors often don’t recommend treating asymptomatic bacteriuria at all in most populations.

This is because bacterial infections like UTIs are typically treated with antibiotics, but antibiotic resistance is a growing concern with this kind of treatment. This is where bacteria can evolve to survive antibiotic treatment, making them much harder to treat in the future. For this reason, experts try to avoid unnecessary antibiotic use.

Is asymptomatic bacteriuria ever treated?

One of the times doctors will recommend treatment is if you’re pregnant. During pregnancy, treatment can reduce the risk of kidney infections, low birthweight babies, and preterm delivery. These UTIs are treated with antibiotics that are safe for pregnancy, such as amoxicillin (Amoxil).

Doctors will also aim to treat asymptomatic bacteriuria in people who have undergone specific procedures related to their urinary tracts and people who have had a kidney transplant in the previous 3 months.

How are UTIs treated?

Many symptomatic uncomplicated UTIs can go away on their own with time, especially if you increase your hydration. But if your condition needs treatment, it will likely be treated with antibiotics.

Common antibiotics for treating UTIs include:

• nitrofurantoin (Macrobid)
• sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim)
• fosfomycin (Monurol)
• pivmecillinam (Pivya)
• amoxicillin clavulanate (Augmentin)
• trimethoprim (Proloprim)

Antibiotic therapy can last anywhere from 3 days to several weeks in severe or chronic cases. But you should start to see improvements within 24 to 48 hours.

Online care for UTI

If you have an asymptomatic UTI, you’ll likely not require treatment. But symptomatic UTIs will often require treatment with antibiotics to clear up the infection and prevent complications like kidney infections.

Online care services, including Optum Perks Online Care, may make getting treatment easier. With these services, you can submit an online form answering a few questions about your symptoms, and a US-licensed healthcare professional will respond soon after to prescribe a treatment plan.

Summary

Urinary tract infections typically cause uncomfortable symptoms that can significantly impact your day-to-day life. But it’s also possible to have ones that cause no symptoms, a condition called asymptomatic bacteriuria. You can have this condition for a very long time without knowing it.

Asymptomatic UTIs typically don’t lead to complications and don’t tend to need treatment. But if you have symptoms of a UTI, reach out to a healthcare professional for evaluation and treatment/

—————

Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on many prescription medications. Plus, you can now get them delivered to your home in as little as 3 days. Search for your medication here.