Taking Antibiotics for a UTI? Here’s What You Should Know, According to Experts

Yes, you need to finish the whole bottle.

There is nothing fun about getting a urinary tract infection (UTI). It makes it burn when you pee, you feel like you need to run to the john all of the time, and when you do, your urine smells kind of funky. UTIs are downright painful and frustrating, and for that you can thank the bacteria wreaking havoc in your body’s drainage system.

Thankfully, doctors know that antibiotics are some of the best treatments to wipe out those menacing germs—and fast! But figuring out the right prescription to beat your specific infection may be a bit of a process. And knowing how to properly take your meds could save you from future infection and other complications.

In order to help you understand what you need to know about antibiotics and UTIs, we’ve tapped on the pros: experts from MCG Health, a research company that compiles evidence-based guidelines so that patients and physicians can work together to create individualized care plans.

So, before you head to your next doctor’s appointment, read on: You’ll know exactly what to ask and what to expect, so you can say goodbye to that bothersome UTI.

What are the most common causes of UTIs?
Most of the time when you go #1, what flows out flushes away some of the troublesome microbes hanging out around your nether region.

“Usually urine is sterile so there’s no bacteria in it,” explains Sabitha Rajan, M.D., MSc, associate managing editor at MCG. “One of the things that keeps us sterile is its continuous flow. Urine flows out of your bladder, down and out your urethra [the emptying tube], and that flow keeps any bacteria from the outside from ascending.”

Proper hygiene helps keep bacteria at bay (that’s why when you were a kid, your parents may have told you to wipe front to back)—but even the cleanest among us can get a UTI. Keep an eye out for these common symptoms:

• A burning sensation when peeing
• A frequent urge to urinate (even when little to nothing is coming out)
• Bloody or cloudy urine
• Bladder cramps or pelvic pain
• And in the worst cases: fever, vomiting, and nausea

Women tend to be more susceptible to UTIs, partly because of the way their bodies are built, says Cheyenne Santiago, R.N., M.S.N., a managing editor at MCG. Men have a longer urethra that runs through the penis and farther away from the anus, so there is less of a chance for bacteria from stool and other sources to make their way to where they can cause problems.

“Women, on the other hand, have a very short urethra,” says Santiago. “So [women] can get bacteria forced up into your bladder.”

Sex can also increase the risk of UTIs in women and so Santiago and Dr. Rajan recommend going to the bathroom after intercourse.

Whichever the cause of your UTI, you should always schedule a visit with your primary care physician so they can get you the proper treatment.

What can I expect when I go to the doctor for a UTI?
Once you get to the doctor’s office, they are going to ask you about your symptoms and make you pee in a cup. This is called a “urinalysis” (analysis of your urine).

“They’ll look at it under a microscope and also dip it,” says Dr. Rajan. “The dipstick will tell the doctor very quickly if there’s any white blood cells, which is a sign of infection, or red blood cells, which could be a sign of some microscopic trauma.”

They will then send some of your pee off to a lab where they can test to see which bacteria is causing your infection. The results usually come back to you within one to two days. However, depending on how strongly your doctor feels that you have a UTI, they may put you on antibiotics right away. When the test arrives, they will double-check to see if they have selected the most effective meds to fight off the bacteria and make any needed adjustments.

How does the doctor decide which antibiotics to prescribe for my UTI?
There are three factors your doctor considers when they are deciding on an antibiotic, according to Dr. Rajan.

First, they need to make sure the medication they select will target the area that’s affected. For a UTI, your bladder is the organ that needs the TLC. Second, your docs will check for what they call “the local resistance pattern” in your town or city.

“There’s always a little bit of variation in the kinds of bacteria in a region,” explains Santiago. “That bacteria becomes more resistant to certain medications and those patterns are different from area to area. So, you may know that in the local area, a lot of women are coming in with a urinary tract infection and maybe a certain drug isn’t really working for them, and they really need another one instead because of the strain that we’re seeing.”

Your care team will also consider your medical history, like whether you’re allergic to penicillin, or if you are predisposed to certain bacterial infections. If cost is a concern, your physician may even be able to find a treatment that fits your budget or is supported by your insurance, says Santiago.