Key takeaways:
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common during pregnancy. They need to be treated with antibiotics.
A properly treated UTI usually won’t cause any lasting harm to a growing baby. But a UTI that’s ignored can become a more serious condition.
If a urine test during pregnancy shows bacteria, you might need antibiotics — even if you aren’t having any symptoms.
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Urinary tract infection, or UTI, is common during pregnancy. A UTI happens when bacteria invade your bladder and urethra and cause an infection.
Sometimes, this infection causes noticeable symptoms. Other times, a urine test might show bacteria in the urine even though you have no symptoms. Either way, getting it treated is important, because a UTI that isn’t properly treated can result in health problems for you and your developing fetus.
Why are UTIs common in pregnancy?
Pregnancy itself doesn’t cause UTIs. But it does make a UTI more likely to develop because of:
Changing hormone levels
Shifts to your vaginal microbiome
Physical pressure from your growing uterus, which can trap urine in your bladder and give bacteria a place to grow
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UTI symptoms in pregnancy
Symptoms of a UTI during pregnancy are the same as those of a regular UTI. The most common are:
The need to pee frequently
The urgent need to pee even when your bladder is empty
Pain or burning when you pee
Discomfort if you try to hold your pee
Abdominal, pelvic, or back pain
Some of these symptoms overlap with normal changes during pregnancy. For example, pregnancy can cause back pain or the need to go to the bathroom frequently. Pregnancy shouldn’t cause pain or burning when you pee, though. If you aren’t sure about your symptoms, it’s a good idea to talk with your healthcare team.
If you get a fever with a UTI, that could mean the infection has progressed beyond your bladder to your kidneys. This condition, called pyelonephritis, is a much more serious infection and can result in long-term problems.
Any fever during pregnancy is a sign you should get medical treatment right away.
UTI testing while pregnant
Testing for a UTI requires a sample of urine. Urine samples are collected routinely during prenatal appointments. If you have UTI symptoms in between appointments, you’ll want to make arrangements to get a urine sample tested right away.
Here are the types of tests that might be used to detect a UTI.
Urine culture
The standard test for a UTI is a urine culture. This is done by monitoring a urine sample for several days and measuring the growth of bacteria.
Normally, urine is sterile, which means no bacteria should grow. If bacteria do grow, laboratory specialists can do more testing to determine what kind of bacteria they are.
Urinalysis
A urinalysis is a faster urine test. For this test, urine is checked for signs of infection. The result of a urinalysis can point to a UTI, but it can’t determine what kind of bacteria are causing it.
Urine spot test
Most medical offices also do a dipstick or spot test of urine samples. These tests are helpful because they are done in just a few minutes and can show signs of infection when a UTI is present. The downside of rapid urine tests is that they provide much less information than either a urinalysis or a urine culture.
Remember, urine tests for infection aren’t the same tests that are done to see if you’re pregnant. Having a UTI doesn’t affect a pregnancy test result — or vice versa.
What UTI treatments are safe during pregnancy?
In almost all cases, UTIs during pregnancy need to be treated with antibiotics. The particular antibiotic you should take depends on the type of bacteria causing your infection and which trimester of pregnancy you are in.
For a simple UTI, antibiotics can usually be prescribed as tablets and taken by mouth. If the UTI has progressed into a kidney infection (pyelonephritis), you might need intravenous (IV) antibiotics in the hospital.
Antibiotics that are safe for UTI during pregnancy
Many antibiotics are safe to use during pregnancy. Experts recommend the following as options:
Penicillin, such as amoxicillin or amoxicillin / potassium clavulanate
Cephalosporin, such as cephalexin
There’s not enough evidence to suggest that one works better than the other. But some experts recommend not using penicillins in some cases, due to the possibility of antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotics that are less safe for UTI during the first trimester
Some common antibiotics used to treat UTIs can be a problem during pregnancy. Both nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin) and trimethoprim / sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim or Septra) have been linked to birth defects if taken during the first trimester, when the baby’s internal organs are in an early stage of development.
But because the risk of this is so low, your healthcare team may recommend one of these antibiotics in the first trimester if no other options are available. Both can also be used safely later in pregnancy, and are often the most effective options during this time.
Over-the-counter treatment for UTI in pregnancy
Phenazopyridine (Azo, Pyridium, or Uricalm) is an over-the-counter (OTC) medication that helps ease urinary tract pain during a UTI. There’s not much data on its use in pregnancy, so it’s best to consult with your healthcare team first.
Note that phenazopyridine isn’t an antibiotic, so it doesn’t kill bacteria or cure the infection. It’s meant to provide short-term relief of discomfort due to UTI.
Is it even a UTI?
Complications of a UTI when you’re pregnant can be harmful (more on this below). For this reason, you might be asked to give a urine sample even if you don’t have any signs of infection. This is to screen for bacteria in your urine. When there’s bacteria in the urine — and no symptoms — that is known as asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB).
What’s the difference?
Having a UTI causes bacteria in the urine, but it also makes you feel bad. ASB doesn’t cause symptoms. There’s no way to know you have it until it shows up on a urine test.
Some people are more likely to have ASB during pregnancy, including those who have:
Previous UTIs
Diabetes
Anemia
Financial hardship
Treating bacteriuria during pregnancy
In people who aren’t pregnant, finding bacteria in the urine isn’t a big deal. During pregnancy, though, ASB is taken seriously. Usually, any bacteriuria during pregnancy is treated with antibiotics to lower the risk of an infection developing in the kidneys.
Preventing UTIs while pregnant
There’s no perfect way to keep from getting a UTI during pregnancy. Even if you do everything right, UTIs can still happen — sometimes repeatedly. That said, here are some things you can do to lower your risk of getting a UTI while you’re pregnant.
Get regular prenatal care
Find a healthcare professional you trust. Follow their instructions throughout your pregnancy. The routine tests that are part of good prenatal care can detect a UTI and other medical conditions early, before they become a problem for you or your baby.
Stay hydrated
Drinking plenty of water is a key step in preventing and recovering from a UTI. Keep urine flowing through your system to help wash out any infection that might be starting.
Take prenatal vitamins
Prenatal vitamins are a good idea, regardless of your risk for UTI. They can help your baby’s development, avoid vitamin deficiencies, and keep your immune system working at its best.
Drink cranberry juice
The data around cranberry juice and cranberry supplements is mixed. Some large studies show that cranberries can help prevent UTIs in nonpregnant people, but there’s not as much research in pregnant women.
Either way, drinking cranberry juice won’t hurt, and it will help you stay hydrated, too. Just be sure to avoid products with added sugars.
Consider probiotics
Probiotics are “good bacteria” intended to supplement your own microbiome. They can sometimes be useful for preventing UTIs in nonpregnant women. But the research in pregnant women is mixed.
Probiotics are safe for most people in pregnancy. But consult with your healthcare team if you’re unsure or you have questions.
Use preventive antibiotics
Preventive, or prophylactic, antibiotics are sometimes recommended for those who get recurrent UTIs during pregnancy. If you have UTIs that keep coming back, talk with your healthcare team. They can help you weigh the benefits and risks of prophylactic antibiotics during pregnancy.
UTI risks to the parent
A UTI during pregnancy is more than just uncomfortable. It can lead to serious health conditions if not properly treated. They include:
Pyelonephritis: If a UTI spreads beyond the bladder to the kidneys, it’s called pyelonephritis. This can lead to sepsis and preterm birth. Pyelonephritis occurs in 1% to 2% of pregnancies and usually during the second trimester.
Chorioamnionitis: Chorioamnionitis is an infection inside the uterus. It can happen when a bacterial infection travels to the amniotic fluid or the membranes that surround a developing fetus.
Preeclampsia: This dangerous condition can occur during pregnancy and often begins with high blood pressure and protein in the urine. There’s a strong link between UTI during pregnancy and preeclampsia.
Can a UTI during pregnancy harm the baby?
A mild UTI usually won’t harm your baby. But an untreated UTI during pregnancy can result in fetal harm, including:
Preterm (early) birth
Low birth weight
Restricted growth
Increased risk of infection for the baby after birth
When to get medical care
If you’re pregnant and start to have symptoms of a UTI, contact your healthcare team right away. They can run a simple urine test to get you answers (and treatment) fast.
Screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria is also recommended early in your prenatal care.
Frequently asked questions
No, urinary tract infections (UTIs) aren’t contagious. Sex can make UTIs more likely, but a UTI isn’t a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
In people who aren’t pregnant, a UTI can sometimes go away on its own. But don’t wait for a UTI to go away if you’re pregnant. Treatment is always recommended for a UTI during pregnancy to prevent maternal and fetal harm.
Group B Strep (GBS) is a bacteria that normally lives in the digestive tract and vagina. Most of the time it doesn’t cause any symptoms. But during pregnancy, GBS can cause chorioamnionitis (infection of the fluid and membranes around the fetus), sepsis, and stillbirth.
Urine tests may detect GBS during pregnancy. Proper treatment for GBS can prevent serious problems during pregnancy and for the newborn baby.
No, urinary tract infections (UTIs) aren’t contagious. Sex can make UTIs more likely, but a UTI isn’t a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
In people who aren’t pregnant, a UTI can sometimes go away on its own. But don’t wait for a UTI to go away if you’re pregnant. Treatment is always recommended for a UTI during pregnancy to prevent maternal and fetal harm.
Group B Strep (GBS) is a bacteria that normally lives in the digestive tract and vagina. Most of the time it doesn’t cause any symptoms. But during pregnancy, GBS can cause chorioamnionitis (infection of the fluid and membranes around the fetus), sepsis, and stillbirth.
Urine tests may detect GBS during pregnancy. Proper treatment for GBS can prevent serious problems during pregnancy and for the newborn baby.
The bottom line
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common during pregnancy. And prenatal urine tests might sometimes find bacteria in the urine even when you don’t have symptoms. Fortunately, treatment of a mild UTI with antibiotics is unlikely to cause any problems. But UTIs that are ignored can progress into worse infections. These can cause serious problems during pregnancy and for the developing fetus.
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References
Afzal, M., et al. (2025). Strategies to decolonize uropathogens in urethra and bladder for prevention of urinary tract infections among pregnant women: A comprehensive narrative analysis. Urological Science.
American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists. (2023). Urinary tract infections in pregnant individuals.
Cohen, R., et al. (2019). Maternal urinary tract infection during pregnancy and long-term infectious morbidity of the offspring. Early Human Development.
Easter, S. R., et al. (2016). Urinary tract infection during pregnancy, angiogenic factor profiles, and risk of preeclampsia. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Fowler, J. R., et al. (2023). Chorioamnionitis. StatPearls.
Gupta, V., et al. (2024). Effectiveness of prophylactic oral and/or vaginal probiotic supplementation in the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Mishra, D., et al. (2024). Risk factors and clinical outcomes of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women: A comprehensive analysis. Cureus.
Schneeberger, C., et al. (2015). Interventions for preventing recurrent urinary tract infection during pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Smaill, F. M., et al. (2007). Antibiotics for asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Stapleton, A. E. (2017). The vaginal microbiota and urinary tract infection. Microbiology Spectrum.
Vazquez, J. C., et al. (2011). Treatments for symptomatic urinary tract infections during pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Williams, G., et al. (2023). Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Wingert, A., et al. (2019). Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy: Systematic reviews of screening and treatment effectiveness and patient preferences. BMJ Open.
