Key signs and symptoms

• Dysuria: Burning pain when peeing
• New nocturia: Needing to pee in the night
• Cloudy urine: Pee looks cloudy

Other signs and symptoms to consider

• Frequency: Peeing more often than usual
• Urgency: Feeling the need to pee immediately
• Haematuria: Blood in your urine
• Suprapubic pain: Pain in your lower tummy

Other things to consider

Recent sex

• Inflammation due to sex can feel similar to the symptoms of a UTI
• Some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can have symptoms similar to those of a UTI

Changes during menopause

• Some changes during the menopause can have symptoms similar to those of a UTI

• Drink enough fluids to stop you feeling thirsty. Aim to drink 6 to 8 glasses a day
• Avoid too much alcohol, fizzy drink or caffeine that can irritate your bladder
• Take paracetamol or ibuprofen as advised for pain relief, if you have had no previous side effects
• You could try taking cranberry capsules or cystitis sachets. Some women find these effective. The evidence to support their use is inconclusive.
• Consider the risk factors in the ‘Options to help prevent UTI’ column to reduce future UTIs

If you are not pregnant

If you have none, or only one of, dysuria, new nocturia or cloudy urine, or you have a vaginal discharge (on its own or with any of the above):

If you have 2 or more of dysuria, new nocturia, cloudy urine or bacteria in your urine and no vaginal discharge:

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If you are pregnant

It may help you to consider the following risk factors:

• Stop bacteria spreading from your bowel into your bladder. Wipe from front (vagina) to back (bottom) after using the toilet
• Avoid waiting to go to the toilet. Pee as soon as you need to
• Go for a pee after having sex to flush out any bacteria that may be near the opening to the urethra
• Wash the external vagina area with water before and after sex to wash away any bacteria that may be near the opening to the urethra
• Drink enough fluids to make sure you pee regularly throughout the day, especially during hot weather

If you have repeated UTIs, discuss this with a healthcare professional. The following may help.

• There is good evidence to show that vaginal hormonal treatment may help after the menopause
• You could try taking cranberry products, D-mannose or probiotics. Some women find these effective. The evidence to support their use is inconclusive

• Antibiotics can be lifesaving. But they are not always needed for urinary symptoms
• Taking any antibiotics can make bacteria that live inside your body more resistant. This means that antibiotics may not work when you really need them
• This may make future UTIs more difficult to treat
• Common side effects of taking antibiotics include thrush, rashes, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Get medical advice if you are worried
• Keep antibiotics working – only take them when advised by a health professional. This way they are more likely to work for a future UTI

UTIs are caused by bacteria getting into your urethra or bladder, usually from your gut. Infections may occur in different parts of the urinary tract.