Can You Get Rid of a UTI Without Antibiotics?
Key takeaways:
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can cause burning and pain when you go to the bathroom.
Most UTIs need to be treated with antibiotics. But some UTIs will go away on their own without antibiotics after a few days. If you’re pregnant or in a high-risk group, you should start antibiotics right away if you have a UTI.
You can still use at-home UTI treatments to relieve symptoms while you wait for your UTI to go away.
Table of contents
Antibiotics are the standard treatment for urinary tract infections (UTIs). But you may be wondering: Is it possible to get rid of a UTI without taking an antibiotic? In short, it depends.
Most of the time, people do need to take an antibiotic to treat a UTI. Antibiotics kill the bacteria causing the infection and help your symptoms go away in 1 to 2 days.
But even though antibiotics work well, many people wonder if it’s worthwhile to first try to treat a UTI in other ways. Maybe they can’t see their healthcare professional. Maybe they’re considering natural remedies. Or they might be concerned about antibiotic overuse and are worried about side effects. And many people want to know whether it’s OK to wait and see if the UTI will go away on its own.
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Here’s a guide to the pros and cons of waiting to start an antibiotic as well as other remedies that can help clear the infection.
What is a UTI?
A UTI is an infection in your urinary tract, which is your body’s system for making and removing urine.
The bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) causes most UTIs. These bacteria normally live harmlessly in your gut but can invade the urinary tract and cause a UTI.
What are the symptoms of urinary tract infection?
Symptoms of a UTI can include:
Pain or burning while urinating
A need to pee more often
A feeling like your bladder is still full after you urinate
Blood in your urine
Pain in your lower belly
Confusion (especially in older adults)
Back pain
Fever and chills
Nausea and vomiting
Who gets UTIs?
Anyone — young or old — can get a UTI. But some people get them more often than others.
You’re more likely to develop a UTI if you:
Have a vagina
Are pregnant
Are sexually active
Have gone through menopause
Use oral contraceptives
Use a diaphragm or spermicide for birth control
Have diabetes
Have any condition that blocks urine flow (like an enlarged prostate or kidney stone)
Have a catheter (tube to drain urine) or recently had a catheter removed
Have undergone genital surgeries
Quicker UTI recovery: Taking antibiotics as directed is your best bet to treat a UTI, but there are lots of over-the-counter medications and home remedies, too. Read on to find out how they might help.
Prevent future UTIs: Get tips from our medical team to help lower your chance of developing a UTI. Plus, see a list of conditions that may contribute to recurrent UTIs.
What does a UTI feel like? Learn from real patients about what UTIs feel like, how they treated their symptoms, and how they try to prevent further infections.
Can you treat a UTI without antibiotics?
Antibiotics for UTIs are the best way to get rid of a UTI fast. The right antibiotic will cure a UTI.
Antibiotics quickly get rid of bacteria and make your symptoms go away. In fact, antibiotics can get rid of a UTI in just 24 hours. Most people with a UTI feel back to normal just 1 to 2 days after starting antibiotics.
There’s no definitive proof that alternative treatments work as well as antibiotics for treating a UTI.
But there’s evidence that about 1 out of 3 UTIs may go away on their own. This can take up to 1 week. This means you’ll likely experience pain and discomfort during that time. Waiting also puts you at risk for developing complications from UTIs like kidney infections (pyelonephritis).
If you’re pregnant, have a weakened immune system, or have a condition that makes you prone to UTIs, you shouldn’t wait to start antibiotics.
Drawbacks of antibiotics
Antibiotics can have some downsides. They can cause side effects, such as:
Nausea
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Rash
Some people can have an allergic reaction or a life-threatening complication. And overuse of antibiotics may also increase antibiotic resistance.
And antibiotics can destroy the “good” bacteria along with the bad. This can lead to other health problems, like a yeast infection or severe diarrhea. In fact, 22% of women who take antibiotics for a UTI may develop a yeast infection.
What are your options for UTI treatment at home?
If you choose to treat your UTI at home for a couple of days, take steps to help your body stay healthy and fight the infection. Home remedies can help you feel better, but none of them can cure a UTI. It’s best to get medical care if you think you have a UTI. You should get care right away if your symptoms are getting worse or if you’re at risk for complications from a UTI.
Stay hydrated
Drinking lots of fluids helps your body make urine. This can flush bacteria out of the urinary tract. Fluids also keep you hydrated, which is helpful for fighting off an infection. Avoid fluids that might irritate your bladder, like alcohol and caffeine.
Urinate frequently
Going to the bathroom frequently can help clear the bacteria from your bladder and urethra.
Use heat
Gentle heat can reduce abdominal pain and discomfort. Consider using a hot water bottle or heating pad on your lower belly.
Over-the-counter pain relievers
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve), can reduce pain and inflammation. But NSAIDs don’t kill bacteria.
Phenazopyridine hydrochloride (Azo, Uristat)
Phenazopyridine hydrochloride medications, like Azo, soothe the walls of your urethra and bladder, which can reduce pain, burning, and discomfort. Note that these medications should not be used for more than 2 days. Using them for longer could cover up symptoms of a more serious infection.
6 natural remedies for UTI treatment
Many people are curious about whether foods and supplements may be a natural treatment for UTIs. Though not all of these remedies have evidence to support them, many are relatively low risk. So if you feel like they’re helpful for you — or you’ve had a positive experience in the past — it might be safe to go ahead and try them. You can also try these natural treatments for UTIs along with antibiotics.
Keep in mind that the FDA doesn’t regulate vitamins and supplements. So it’s worthwhile to check with an independent lab to help you choose a product that’s safe and effective. You should also check with a healthcare professional before taking any supplement on a regular basis, especially if you’re pregnant, take other medications, or have any health conditions.
1. Cranberry juice and products
Cranberry is a well-known folk remedy for UTIs. It may help prevent bacteria from attaching to the walls of your urinary tract, and contains substances that might act like natural antibiotics.
There’s just no good evidence that cranberries can help an active UTI go away. It also doesn’t always work well for preventing UTIs.
Cranberry may have other health benefits, even if it’s not directly helpful for treating your UTI. It may encourage healthy bacteria to grow and boost your immune system. It’s also considered a fairly low-risk remedy, so it’s not likely to do any harm.
Cranberry is available as a supplement, or you can consume it as a food or juice. If you’re considering cranberry, make sure to find a low-sugar option for the greatest benefit.
2. Lactobacillus probiotics
Lactobacillus is a helpful bacteria that lives in the genital area and makes it hard for harmful bacteria like E. coli to grow in the urinary tract. Lactobacillus may also keep E. coli from sticking together and attaching to the urinary tract walls. Some people think this might make it easier for the body to clear the infection.
Lactobacillus is available as a supplement. It’s also found in fermented foods, such as yogurt, kefir, and kimchi. Look for foods that are refrigerated and labeled as containing “live” probiotics.
3. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
Vitamin C can change the pH of your urine, making it more acidic. This might help kill harmful bacteria, such as E. coli.
Probably not. There have only been a few studies on vitamin C and UTIs, with mixed results. But trying vitamin C in moderation may be reasonable — especially because it can also help repair body tissues and boost the immune system.
You can take vitamin C as a supplement. It’s also in many fruits and vegetables, such as citrus fruits, bell peppers, broccoli, and tomatoes.
4. D-mannose
D-mannose is a carbohydrate found in fruits and vegetables. It may keep E. coli from attaching to the walls of the urinary tract.
It’s not clear. Though results are mixed on how well it treats active UTIs, a 2016 pilot study showed promising results. And a large 2020 review of studies suggested that D-mannose may also be helpful for preventing recurrent UTIs.
D-mannose is available as a supplement, and it can also be found in fruit and vegetables like tomatoes, apples, blueberries, and oranges.
5. Uva-ursi (bearberry)
Uva-ursi (bearberry) is an herbal medication that may increase urination, reduce inflammation, and decrease harmful bacteria.
Probably not. In a 2019 study of uva-ursi extract as an alternative to antibiotics, the herb didn’t have much of an effect on UTI symptoms.
Uva-ursi is available as a crushed leaf or powder, and you can take it as a pill or tea. Keep in mind that this supplement can be toxic, and it contains a chemical that can damage your liver. Talk with a healthcare professional before using it.
6. Canephron N
Canephron N is a German herbal supplement that contains rosemary, lovage root, and centaury. It’s approved in 28 countries for treating and preventing UTIs. It may help flush out harmful bacteria, reduce inflammation, and ease pain and cramping.
Canephron N may be helpful for treating some UTIs. In the past couple of years, it has been getting more attention as a potential alternative to antibiotics. In one small study, 71% of people with UTIs got better when treated with Canephron N. And in a recent large study of more than 600 women, Canephron N seemed to work as well as an antibiotic — with fewer side effects.
Canephron N is available as a tablet. Some specialty stores in the U.S. carry it.
Can a UTI go away on its own?
If you have a mild infection in your bladder, there’s a small chance it can go away on its own over a few days. But other types of UTI will not go away on their own without antibiotics.
Some people who have a bladder infection may be able to hold off on antibiotics for a couple of days to see what happens. But this approach isn’t safe for people who are:
Are pregnant
Have a penis
Have an enlarged prostate, or problems emptying their bladder
Have a history of kidney stones or kidney problems
Have diabetes
Have a catheter or ureteral stent
Get care right away if you have one of these conditions. You shouldn’t wait to see if your infection clears up on its own.
A “wait-and-see” approach is also not safe if you have an infection in your kidneys or another part of the urinary tract besides your bladder.
Get medical care right away if you have any symptoms that mean the UTI has spread to your kidneys, including:
Fever
Chills
Nausea
Vomiting
Back pain
Blood in your urine
Intense pain when urinating
Changes in your urine color
Changes in how much you’re urinating
It can be hard to tell where your infection is based on just your symptoms. So it’s always best to get medical care as soon as possible if you have UTI symptoms.
How long will a UTI last without antibiotics?
In some studies, 25% to 50% of women with bladder infections got better within 1 week without antibiotics. But, it’s hard to predict how long it will take for your UTI to go away and if it will go away completely. For many people, the symptoms are just too uncomfortable to wait and see.
Are there risks to not treating a UTI with antibiotics?
Yes, there are risks to not taking antibiotics and waiting to start antibiotics.
Even a mild UTI can cause major pain and discomfort. And UTI symptoms can also get in the way of your personal life or make you miss work.
Also, an untreated mild UTI can spread to the kidneys. This happens in about 2% of cases in people who have no medical conditions or a history of surgery of the urinary tract. The risk is much higher for people who are pregnant, have a weakened immune system or have a medical condition that affects their kidneys or bladder. The risk is also higher for people who’ve had urinary tract surgery, such as prostate surgery or ureteral stent placement.
Kidney infections can lead to permanent kidney damage. Sometimes the bacteria can spread beyond the urinary tract, infecting blood or other body tissues. This can lead to a life-threatening situation, or even death.
How can you prevent UTIs?
If you’ve had a UTI, there’s a chance that you’ll have another one in the future. In fact, about 1 in 3 women with a UTI will have another one within 6 months. So, what can you do to help prevent UTIs? Fortunately, there are many nonmedication strategies that may help prevent UTIs from recurring.
Here are some ideas that may help prevent UTIs:
Stay hydrated.
Reduce how much coffee, alcohol, and sugary drinks you have.
Avoid douching.
Avoid using perfumed menstrual products.
Use mild (or no) soap when cleaning your genital area.
Wipe front to back when using the bathroom.
Change menstrual and incontinence pads often.
Empty your bladder after sex.
Only use clean hands or sex toys on your genitals (especially if they have touched your anus or anal area).
Avoid using spermicides.
Maintain a balanced body weight.
In some cases, your healthcare professional may actually suggest antibiotics to prevent UTIs — especially if you get them frequently. In people who have gone through menopause, hormone therapy (estrogen) may also help to protect against UTIs by encouraging Lactobacillus to flourish.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, it’s possible to have a UTI without pain. This is more common in adults over 65 years old. People with a history of medical conditions or surgeries affecting the bladder or urinary tract may also not experience pain when urinating.
Bacterial UTIs aren’t contagious. Someone with a bladder infection or a kidney infection cannot pass their infection to another person.
Emotional and physical stress will not cause a urinary tract infection. Long-term physical stress can weaken the immune system, which can put you at risk of developing an infection, such as a UTI.
The bottom line
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are infections of the bladder, urethra, and kidney. Simple bladder infections may go away on their own in about a week — even without antibiotics. But this “wait-and-see” approach isn’t safe for everyone. It’s best to get care as soon as possible if you have symptoms of a UTI.
Keep in mind that antibiotics help symptoms go away faster and will cure your UTI. Whether you start antibiotics right away, you can try at-home treatments for UTIs to lessen your symptoms. Fluids, NSAIDs, and phenazopyridine hydrochloride can help you stay comfortable while you wait for your UTI to go away or for antibiotics to start working.
Why trust our experts?
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