5 key facts on UTIs and urgent care treatment
Medically reviewed by Dr. Betsy Koickel, MD on June 17th, 2025.
If you’ve ever had a urinary tract infection (UTI) — the second-most-common type of bacterial infection — you know how uncomfortable it can be. The relentless need to pee and the burning sensation that can accompany a UTI will prompt you to consider the fastest option for relief.
While contacting your doctor might be your first inclination, did you know there are other convenient options? For example, can you go to an urgent care for a UTI? Yes! You can visit an urgent care center for same-day diagnosis and treatment, saving you time and hassle. Plus, understanding the root cause of the infection and knowing how to prevent it best can help you avoid reoccurrences.
As frustrating as UTIs can be, they are common and can be treated. Let’s discuss five key facts about UTIs to help you better understand what might be happening with your body, including how to identify, prevent, and manage UTIs.
1. Women are 10x more likely to get a UTI than men
Why do women get UTIs more than men? When it comes to developing a urinary tract infection, anatomy isn’t in a woman’s favor. Her urethra, the tube that releases urine, is shorter than a man’s, making it easier for bacteria to travel to the bladder and multiply. Still, UTIs do occur among men (especially as they age), but not at the same rate as women.
Statistics from the National Kidney Foundation show that one in five women will have at least one UTI in her lifetime. Unfortunately, once you get one, you’re more inclined to have another. Some women are also more prone to infection because of the unique seasons they go through, like pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause.
2. Can sex cause UTIs? Yes, but it’s not the only culprit
The urinary tract is designed to keep harmful bacteria out, but it’s not foolproof. Anything that upsets the natural flora of the urinary tract can lead to a urinary tract infection.
Sex, especially, puts a woman at risk for developing a UTI. That’s because, during intercourse, the urethra comes into contact with bacteria from the genital area or anus. Harmful microbes can enter the urinary tract and cause an infection. In fact, almost 80% of premenopausal women with an infection have had sex within the previous 24 hours.
Other preexisting conditions, activities and products can lead to a UTI. Some of the most common factors in developing a UTI include:
- Hydration status. Drinking enough water, especially during the hot summer months, can make the difference between flushing out bacteria that can cause a UTI and not.
- Urination frequency. If you hold your urine for six hours or more, you may be putting yourself at a greater risk of bacteria overgrowing in your bladder.
- Bowel habits. It’s often difficult to empty your bladder when you’re constipated, which means bacteria have time to grow and cause an infection. Conversely, bacteria from diarrhea can also easily enter your urethra.
- Kidney stones. Because they can block your urinary tract and hold urine in, kidney stones give bacteria time to grow and can lead to a UTI.
- High blood sugar. For some people with uncontrolled diabetes, the bladder doesn’t empty as well as it should, and can become a breeding ground for bacteria. In addition, high blood glucose levels can increase the odds of a UTI.
- Menstrual hygiene. Since bacteria are more prone to grow in moist environments, it’s important to change your pad or tampon frequently during your period.
- Vaginal bacteria balance. Hormone changes from switching your birth control can lead to a fluctuation of the normal bacteria in your vagina, increasing your likelihood of getting a UTI. The use of diaphragms and spermicides as contraceptives can also make you more susceptible to an infection.
Other reasons you’re likely to develop a UTI involve urinary tract abnormalities, a spinal cord injury, nerve damage around the bladder, and having a shorter urethra than normal.
A urinalysis can help identify signs of bacteria, white blood cells, which appear to fight infection, and blood, which often accompany a UTI.
3. Irritation down there doesn’t necessarily mean a UTI
You’re likely to remember the symptoms of a UTI if you’ve experienced one. You have a frequent urge to pee, which often results in a minimal amount of urine. Any urine that is released causes a painful, burning sensation. You might have discolored or foul-smelling urine.
Some people report feeling pressure in the lower abdomen, back, or sides below the ribs. In the elderly, confusion can be the main symptom of a UTI. However, such discomfort may not indicate a urinary tract infection.
Finally, other conditions may have symptoms similar to a UTI. For example, yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis can cause vaginal itchiness, irregular discharge or blood in the urine (which is rare for a UTI to cause). At the onset, symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases can also be confused with UTIs.
That’s why professional medical advice is crucial when you start having symptoms. If you have a UTI but wait too long to receive treatment, it could lead to more serious kidney and lower urinary tract infections.
4. You can visit an urgent care for UTI treatment
Hopefully, you have a trustworthy relationship with your primary care provider or OB/GYN when health changes arise. Even so, demands for medical care can make it difficult to get in to see your doctor in a timely fashion. Plus, annoying symptoms like having a UTI often happen outside of regular doctor’s office hours.
Instead, we recommend visiting an urgent care center for UTI treatment. Urgent care centers routinely treat UTIs. With extended hours and same-day walk-in appointments, it’s easy to get answers — and relief — from a healthcare professional.
When you go to urgent care for a UTI, the provider will typically start by ordering a urinalysis. On-site laboratories allow us to review urine cultures and ensure we prescribe the appropriate treatment.
If you’re wondering whether to go to an urgent care center or the emergency room, UTIs are typically not an emergency. Emergency rooms are usually reserved for emergency or life-threatening situations, like strokes, head trauma, or difficulty breathing.
Whenever you’re in discomfort or need attention. UTIs, while painful, are not life-threatening, especially if caught and treated early. Urgent care may be the best place to get immediate attention. Plus, visiting an urgent care center for UTIs typically costs far less than an emergency room, and could be covered by your health insurance.
5. Tips on how to prevent UTIs
Unfortunately, UTIs rarely go away on their own. That’s why antibiotics are recommended as the primary treatment method. However, there are at-home steps you can take to help prevent UTIs from occurring:
- Hydrate. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids, primarily water. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommends drinking six to eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day to flush harmful bacteria out of your urinary tract. Fluids also help to dilute your urine so bacteria don’t build up.
- Avoid irritants. Beverages like coffee, alcohol, and carbonated soft drinks containing artificial sweeteners can further irritate your bladder and make it harder for your flora to return to normal.
- Urinate regularly. Even though going to the bathroom regularly can be inconvenient, every little bit of urine you remove helps. Emptying your bladder helps remove some of the harmful bacteria that can cause a UTI. If you regularly suffer from UTIs, try to go to the bathroom more frequently.
- Practice genital hygiene. Simple changes to your daily routine can help you recover from or prevent a urinary tract infection (UTI). Urinate after sex and wipe from front to back, especially after a bowel movement. Avoid fragranced feminine hygiene products, powders, sprays, and douches. Wear loose-fitting underwear and change out of sweaty workout clothes after exercise.
If you are diagnosed with a UTI, it’s important to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions. Antibiotics are typically prescribed based on the specific bacteria present. Take the full course of antibiotics as directed to treat the urinary tract infection and prevent it from recurring, even if you feel better after the first couple of doses.
Additional methods for treating and preventing UTIs have also been debated. While recent studies are inconclusive about the benefits of drinking cranberry juice in preventing a UTI, once you have an infection, cranberry juice won’t help. The same goes for probiotics. Fermented products like kefir yogurts and kombucha might cultivate good vaginal flora, but won’t help once you have an active infection.
Takeaway Points
The best course of action is to prevent a UTI before it even starts. Make small changes to your daily routine, like drinking enough water and eating foods rich in vitamin C. Evaluate the personal care products you use and the clothes you wear as they affect vaginal bacteria.
Should you feel the irritating symptoms of a UTI coming on, seek treatment from a medical professional, especially if you’re elderly, pregnant, or have any compromising health conditions.
Use urgent care for UTI treatment, including a quick urine test and analysis. Then, you can get back to feeling like your normal, healthy self more quickly and easily.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Can you go to urgent care for a UTI?
Yes, any urgent care center can diagnose or treat a UTI. To get started, just walk in or save your spot online.
Does urgent care treat UTIs?
Yes, our caring providers at our urgent care centers can treat urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Can men get a UTI from women?
Yes, men can get a UTI from sexual activity with a woman, though it’s less common due to their longer urethra.
Why do women get UTIs more than men?
Women get UTIs more often because their urethra is shorter and closer to the anus, making it easier for bacteria to enter the urinary tract and cause a UTI.
Are there any effective home remedies for a UTI?
Antibiotics are typically needed to treat a UTI once the infection has occurred. But you can implement prevention measures at home, such as staying hydrated, eating foods rich in vitamin C, and urinating when needed.
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