Yes! You've come to the right place ‒ Health Navigator NZ is now Healthify He Puna Waiora

Low on data? Visit zero.govt.nz then click on our logo to return to our site and browse for free.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) in women (Pokenga pūaha mimi)

Key points about urinary tract infections in women

Urinary tract infections (UTIs or pokenga pūaha mimi) can affect any part of your urinary system – kidneys, ureters, bladder or urethra. UTIs are also known as cystitis or bladder infections.
About 1 in every 2 women will have at least one UTI in their lifetime. The most common is cystitis, an infection that affects your bladder.
Symptoms of a UTI include burning or pain when peeing and needing to pee more often and more urgently.
UTIs can be treated with antibiotics, but they are not always needed.
Self-care includes taking pain relief and drinking plenty of water.
In rare cases, the infection can spread to your kidneys. This is known as pyelonephritis and needs urgent medical care.

Group of women sitting chatting in the park

A UTI is a bacterial infection in some part of your urinary system. Your urinary system includes all the organs involved in making and releasing urine (pee):

Kidneys – these filter your blood to remove waste and extra water to make urine (pee).
Ureter – two thin tubes of muscle, one on each side of your bladder, through which urine flows from your kidneys to your bladder.
Bladder – where you store urine until you need to pee.
Urethra – when you pee, urine passes along your urethra, a central tube that carries urine out of your body.

When the infection is just in the bladder (cystitis) and urethra (urethritis), this is called a lower UTI. If it travels up to affect one or both kidneys as well (pyelonephritis) then it is called an upper UTI. This can be more serious than a lower UTI, as the kidneys can become damaged by the infection.

Image credit: 123rf

An infection in your urinary system may be caused by:

sexual intercourse
problems in the structure of your kidneys, bladder or tubes
irritation of the urethra by chemicals (eg, soaps, perfumes, vaginal hygiene sprays, spermicidal tubes)
ulcers or inflammation near your urethra
unprotected sex
sexually transmitted infection (STI), eg, chlamydia
radiation therapy which can irritate the lining of the bladder
bacteria from your anal area (bottom) entering your bladder via your urethra – the urethra is shorter in women than in men so it is easier for bacteria to reach the bladder and cause infection in women. The picture below shows how this can happen.

Travel of bacteria from rectum to urethra. Image credit: 123rf

UTIs can occur at any age and are more common if you:

are pregnant (read more about UTI in pregnancy)
have had UTIs in the past
have diabetes, kidney failure or a weakened immune system
have other urinary tract problems such as urinary stones or inadequate emptying of the bladder
have a condition that makes it difficult to fully empty the bladder such as constipation
have been through menopause – the changes in the tissues of your vagina and urethra after menopause make it harder for them to defend against infection
use a urinary catheter (a long, thin tube used to drain urine)
engage in unsafe sex.

If you have any symptoms of a UTI, you should see a doctor. Your symptoms could mean that you have a UTI or another condition like an STI or pyelonephritis.

Symptoms of a UTI include:

pain or burning during or immediately after peeing (dysuria)
needing to pee more often than usual during the night (nocturia)
pain in your lower tummy (abdomen)
feeling the need to pee more often
needing to pee without much notice
suprapubic pain (pain just above your pubic bone)
recent antibiotic use
urine that smells bad or looks cloudy or reddish.

Older women may have no symptoms or fever. Often the only symptoms are being more muddled, sleepier, incontinent, off your food, or just feeling generally unwell. Confusion and sleepiness can put older adults at risk of falls.

Call Healthline or see your doctor urgently if you have any of the following symptoms:
a very high temperature, or you're feeling hot and shivery a very low temperature below 36ºC confusion, drowsiness or you have difficulty speaking you have not been for a pee all day pain in the lower tummy or in the back, just under the ribs blood in your pee These symptoms suggest a kidney infection, which can be serious if it's not treated quickly.

Call Healthline or see your doctor urgently if you have any of the following symptoms:

a very high temperature, or you're feeling hot and shivery
a very low temperature below 36ºC
confusion, drowsiness or you have difficulty speaking
you have not been for a pee all day
pain in the lower tummy or in the back, just under the ribs
blood in your pee

These symptoms suggest a kidney infection, which can be serious if it's not treated quickly.

To diagnose a UTI, your GP will examine you and ask you questions about your general health. Sometimes that might be enough to diagnose a UTI. Your doctor may want you to provide a urine sample to identify what bacteria is causing the infection. Your doctor may also do a blood test and check your temperature and heart rate.

The main aims of treatment are to relieve your symptoms, treat the infection and prevent the infection spreading to your kidneys.

Antibiotics

UTIs are treated with antibiotics, the common ones being nitrofurantoin, cefalexin and trimethoprim. Usually, a 3–5 day course of antibiotics is needed to treat the infection and to reduce the risk of it spreading to your kidneys and causing pyelonephritis. Your symptoms should begin to improve within the first 2 days of taking antibiotics.

If your doctor advises you to take antibiotics, it's important to finish the whole course of antibiotics, even if you start to feel better before the course is finished. If your symptoms continue for more than 2 days after starting treatment, or if you get worse, see your doctor as soon as possible.

If you have recurrent UTIs (you keep getting them), or are at higher risk of complications, your doctor may give you a low dose antibiotic to take for a few months. How long you need to take the antibiotic depends on how often you are having UTIs.

Can I get antibiotics for a UTI from my pharmacy without a prescription?

Many pharmacists are now able to sell antibiotics for the treatment of UTIs in women. Macrobid (nitrofurantoin capsules) and trimethoprim tablets are available without a prescription for woman aged 16 to 65 years, who are not pregnant and don't have any other complicating factors. Only pharmacists who have completed additional training can supply these medicines. Read more about Macrobid (nitrofurantoin capsules) and trimethoprim.

Pain relief only is not recommended

Allowing your immune system to fight the infection (by only taking pain relief and not using antibiotics) is not recommended. Antibiotics can reduce how long you have symptoms on average by around 2 days and reduce the risk of complications like pyelonephritis.

Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain.
Drink plenty of water so you don't get dehydrated. This helps to flush out the bacteria.
Avoid getting constipated by eating plenty of fibre (such as fruit) and drinking enough fluid.
There is no evidence that it helps to take products that alkalise your urine (such as Ural®). If you are taking antibiotics they can actually reduce the effect of the antibiotic.
Take showers instead of baths.
Wear loose cotton underwear.
Avoid perfumed bubble bath, soap or talcum powder.
Avoid wearing tight, synthetic underwear (such as nylon) or tight trousers.
If you get recurrent infections and you are post-menopausal (you've stopped having periods), ask your doctor about vaginal oestrogen.

When you pee

Don’t hold your pee in if you feel the urge to go and try to fully empty your bladder when you pee.
Try peeing twice to make sure your bladder is empty.
Wipe from front to back.

Sex

Pee as soon as possible after sex.
Don't use condoms or diaphragms with spermicidal lube on them – try non-spermicidal lube or a different type of contraception.
Use lubricating jelly during sex.
Stay safe when you are having unprotected sex or are changing partners.

Cranberry, probiotics, D-mannose

You may see some of these options recommended for preventing UTIs but there is no evidence for their use. Read more about cranberries and UTIs and D-mannose and UTIs.

Urinary tract infection(external link) Ministry of Health, NZ
Recurrent cystitis in women(external link) Patient Info, UK
Urine infection in older people(external link) Patient Info, UK
Urine infections(external link) Healthinfo, NZ
UTIs and delirium (external link) Lifted Care
Why do urinary tract infections (UTIs) affect dementia?(external link) Unforgettable
Antibiotics for urinary tract infections(external link) Choosing Wisely, NZ, 2018