UTIs are common infections that can cause a range of symptoms, including:
- burning or pain when you pee
- increased urgency to urinate
- increased frequency of urination
- pelvic or abdominal pain
- cloudy, foul-smelling urine
- blood in your urine
UTIs can be very uncomfortable and irritating, so you’ll likely be wondering how long they last.
Their duration depends on many factors, including whether or not you seek medical treatment. Mild, uncomplicated UTIs may clear up on their own with time. But the right treatment can speed up the process.
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How long do UTIs last?
UTIs are very common, and uncomplicated UTIs may clear up on their own with time. Uncomplicated UTIs are ones that affect your lower urinary tract and have no other factors to worsen them.
In fact, UTIs may clear up on their own in around 20% of uncomplicated cases, particularly in people who increase their hydration.
But there’s no guarantee that your infection will clear up without treatment. According to a 2020 review, 42% of people with untreated UTIs stopped showing symptoms after 9 days. But as many as 39% of participants saw no improvements at all after 6 weeks.
Antibiotic treatment can speed up recovery and help prevent complications.
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. About 1.4% of UTI cases may progress to kidney infections if not treated promptly with antibiotics.
UTI treatment
Because UTIs are most often caused by bacteria, antibiotics are the primary treatment method. These usually come in oral tablet form that you take at home.
- nitrofurantoin (Macrobid)
- sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim)
- amoxicillin clavulanate (Augmentin)
- ciprofloxacin (Ciloxan)
- trimethoprim (Proloprim)
Like any medication, antibiotics may cause side effects. Some of the side effects include:
- nausea and vomiting
- abdominal pain
- yeast infections
- rashes
- allergic reactions
Despite these side effects, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that the benefits of taking antibiotics outweigh the potential risks or side effects. Continue taking your medication for its entire course, even if you start to feel better. Completing the course ensures that the infection is gone and doesn’t come back.
You can also try some over-the-counter (OTC) medications to manage symptoms. Phenazopyridine (Uristat) is one example. This drug is a urinary analgesic, meaning it helps relieve pain when you’re urinating. It also helps reduce the urgency and frequency of your pee.
Usually, you can take phenazopyridine three times daily for 2 days. You can take it for up to 5 days. It won’t speed up your recovery, but it may help ease your symptoms while you wait to notice relief from the antibiotics.
You might also consider trying OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to ease any pain you’re experiencing.
Home remedies for UTIs
Some at-home or self-care remedies can help ease your symptoms or even speed up your recovery.
The main home remedy recommendation for UTI recovery is to make sure you drink plenty of water. Increased water intake will increase your urination, which can help flush out your infection with time.
One of the most commonly discussed home remedies for UTIs is cranberry juice. Many people believe it can help reduce symptoms and even get rid of the infection. But evidence is mixed on whether cranberry can help with UTIs.
However, drinking high amounts of cranberry juice may have the same effect as drinking more water. It can help increase your urine output and flush out the infection. This might lead to the belief that the cranberry juice itself is healing the infection.
Healthy hygiene habits are essential in preventing UTIs and aiding in your recovery.
The CDC recommends that you pee after any sexual activity and wipe front to back. This will help avoid introducing bacteria to your urinary tract. Avoid using harsh chemicals around your genitals, and consider taking showers instead of baths.
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Although some UTIs may clear up on their own, the correct treatment can help significantly lower recovery time and help prevent any complications.
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
UTIs can cause very uncomfortable symptoms, and their durations may vary widely depending on various factors. Whether or not you seek treatment is one of these factors.
Some UTIs may clear up on their own within a few weeks without treatment. But this is not the case for everyone. Antibiotics can reduce recovery time and help you start to feel better within a few days while also reducing the risk of complications.
You can also try some home remedies to ease symptoms and speed up recovery. Staying hydrated is very important, and you may find that cranberry juice helps with recovery. And maintaining good hygiene may help prevent reinfections.
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