Can a UTI Go Away on its Own?
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Summary
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very common worldwide.
- Women are more likely to get a UTI than a man.
- UTIs are usually caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract.
- The urinary tract is made up of four parts.
- There are three types of UTIs: bacterial, fungal, and viral.
- Treatment for UTIs usually includes antibiotics or a range of home remedies.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very common in the United States. They are in fact the second most common type of infection in the body and the cause of more than 8 million visits to the doctor each year.
According to the Urology Care Foundation, about 10 in 25 (40%) women and 3 in 25 (12%) men in the U.S. will have UTI symptoms during their lifetime.
In this article, we’ll cover UTIs, what they look like, what causes them, how to prevent them, and if a UTI can go away on its own.
What is a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of the urinary system, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
Most infections happen in the lower urinary tract, which comprises the bladder and the urethra.
Women are more likely to get a UTI because a woman's urethra is shorter than a man's. The pain and discomfort of a bladder infection can be hard to deal with. However, if a UTI spreads to your kidneys, it can have serious consequences.
Antibiotics are typically used to treat urinary tract infections, but you can take steps to lessen your chances of getting a UTI in the first place.
Different Parts of the Urinary Tract
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Kidneys: These small organs are located on the back of your body, just above the hips. They are the filters your body uses to remove waste and water from your blood by turning them into urine.
-
Ureters: The ureters are thin tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to your bladder.
-
Bladder: A sac-like organ where urine is stored before it leaves the body.
-
Urethra: This tube carries the urine from your bladder to the outside of the body.
How Do You Get a UTI?
UTIs are usually caused by bacteria (mostly from feces) entering the urinary tract. The bacteria enter through the tube that carries urine out of the body (urethra).
Women have a shorter urethra, meaning bacteria are more likely to reach the bladder or kidneys and cause infection in women than it does in men.
Over 90% of bladder infections, or cystitis, are caused by E. coli.
Key Point: What is E. coli?
E. coli, also known as Escherichia coli, is a bacteria that normally lives in your intestines. It's also found in the gut of some animals.
UTI Symptoms
People with a UTI may have red and irritated areas on their urinary tract linings, which may result in some of the following symptoms:
- Pressure in the lower pelvis
- Frequent and urgent need to urinate, as well as urine leakage
- Painful urination and blood in the urine
- Cloudy or strong, foul-smelling urine
- Pain in the abdomen, side, or pelvic area
Other UTI symptoms include:
- Pain during sex
- Penis pain
- Lower back pain
- Fatigue
- Fever over 100°F and chills
- Nausea
- Confusion or changes in mental state
UTI Treatment
UTI treatment depends on whether it’s from a:
- Bacteria (most common)
- Fungus (rare)
- Virus (very rare)
Your doctor will be able to determine what caused your UTI based on your test results. These tests are done by looking at your urine.
Different types of UTIs are treated in different ways:
| Types of UTI Treatments | |
|---|---|
| Type of UTI | Treatment |
| Bacterial | Antibiotics |
| Fungal | Antifungal |
| Viral | Rare, but can be treated depending on virus |
Antibiotic UTI Treatment
Most of the time, the type of antibiotic that is used to treat a bacterial UTI depends on the cause of your UTI.
Lower tract UTIs are usually treated with oral antibiotics, but upper tract UTIs need to be treated with intravenous antibiotics.
Key Point: What Are Intravenous Antibiotics?
Intravenous antibiotics are antibiotics that are administered directly into a vein so that they enter the bloodstream immediately and bypass the absorption in the gut.
Some bacteria have antibiotic resistance. For this reason, your doctor will likely put you on the shortest treatment course possible. For most people, treatment lasts between 7 and 10 days. For a complex infection, you might need to take antibiotics for 14 days or more.
When your urine culture results come back, they can help your doctor choose an antibiotic treatment that will work best against the type of bacteria that's causing you to feel sick.
Research is currently being done on treatments for bacterial UTIs that don't use antibiotics. This means antibiotics may not be the only way to treat UTIs in the future.
Home Remedies for UTIs
There are no home remedies that can cure a UTI, but there are some things you can do that can help your medication work better. However, none of these remedies replace critical antibiotic treatment.
Some UTI home remedies include:
- Drinking cranberry juice: Cranberry juice or just cranberries may contain an ingredient that prevents bacteria from attaching to the walls of the urinary tract.
- Drinking a lot of water: Although urinating can be painful when you have a UTI, it’s important to drink as many fluids as possible, particularly water. Urinating helps flush harmful bacteria from the urinary tract.
- Taking probiotics: Probiotics promote healthy digestion and immunity. They may also be effective in treating and preventing UTIs.
- Wearing loose clothing: Wearing cotton-lined and loose-fitting clothing may help treat pre-existing UTI infections by helping to keep the area dry and clean.
Does a UTI Go Away on Its Own?
Antibiotics are an effective treatment for UTIs. However, the body can often resolve a very minor, uncomplicated urinary tract infection on its own without the help of antibiotics.
According to PubMed Central, between 25% and 42% of uncomplicated UTI infections go away on their own. In these cases, people can try a range of UTI home remedies to speed up recovery.
Key Point: What is a Complicated UTI?
Complicated UTIs involve one or more of the following factors and will require medical treatment:
- Changes in the urinary tract or organs (like a swollen prostate or reduced urine flow)
- Bacteria species that have antibiotic resistance
- Conditions that affect the immune system (such as HIV, cardiac illness, or lupus)
How Long Does a UTI Last?
The answer is not definite, because it depends on where your UTI is.
According to urologists at the Saint John's Cancer Institute, recovery from a UTI in the bladder (which is the most common infection site), can occur between one to seven days.
However, if you have a kidney infection, it will take roughly 14 days to treat.
How Long Will a UTI Last Without Antibiotics?
There are some UTIs that go away without antibiotics. Between 25% and 50% of UTIs go away on their own within a week.
However, you should think about whether this is the right course of action for you. A UTI may not be able to heal on its own and it could worsen without the proper treatment.
If you have recurrent urinary tract infections or ones that are very bothersome and won't go away, you might need to go for testing to find out what is causing the infection and pick a different treatment.
When is it Time to See a Doctor About a UTI?
If they suspect you have a bladder infection or you are displaying UTI symptoms, most healthcare providers will tell you to see your doctor right away.
Sometimes, a mild UTI will go away on its own without the help of a doctor. However, treatment and antibiotics can help with shortening the length and severity of your urinary tract infection and can help prevent further complications.
You should see your healthcare provider if you get frequent UTIs. If you have three or more urinary tract infections in 12 months, it's time to see a doctor.
Where Can I Learn More About UTIs?
If you're experiencing some of the symptoms, you can meet with a U.S. based, board-certified doctor from your smartphone, computer, or tablet. Head over to LifeMD.com to make your first appointment.
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