Urinary tract infection (UTI) treatment

Question 1

Can men get UTI treatment through Amazon One Medical On-Demand Care?

Answer

No. Bacterial infections of male anatomy tend to be more complex and may require lab testing to rule out certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

If your assigned sex at birth was male and you're having UTI symptoms like painful urination or blood in your urine, you'll need to see a primary care provider for an in-person evaluation.

Question 2

Why do women get more UTIs than men?

Answer

In general, it's easier for "bad" bacteria like E. coli to access female anatomy because the urethra is so close to the anus.

How can women lower their risk of getting UTIs?

• Urinate before and after having sex

• Wipe yourself front to back after using the bathroom

• Drink lots of water

• Don't "hold it" for too long when you need to urinate

Some research has also shown the natural benefits of cranberry in keeping E. coli from bonding to the urinary tract.

Question 3

How common are UTIs?

Answer

UTIs are very common among women; about 50 to 60% of adult women have had at least one UTI. The numbers are significantly lower for adult men.

Question 4

How do you treat a UTI?

Answer

Almost all urinary tract infections can be treated effectively with oral antibiotics. Your One Medical provider will choose an antibiotic based on the type of bacteria you have (or are most likely to have). They'll also consider factors like underlying health conditions, allergies, other medications you're taking, and if certain antibiotics failed to work for you in the past. Be sure to tell your provider if you think any of these factors might be relevant.

Usually a 3- or 5-day course of antibiotics is sufficient for treating an uncomplicated UTI, also known as acute simple cystitis.

Before prescribing medication, however, your provider will want to know if you've recently taken antibiotics for the same symptoms. Overprescribing this type of therapy can lead to bacterial resistance, when the drug doesn't work as well.

If you started taking antibiotics over 3 days ago and you're still having UTI symptoms, you'll need to see a primary care provider for an in-person evaluation.

If your provider determines that your kidneys are involved in the infection, you'll need in-person care.

Question 5

Can I be treated for frequent or recurring UTIs through On-Demand Care?

Answer

No. If you've experienced 3 or more UTIs within the past 12 months, or you've already been treated for 2 or more UTIs within the past 6 months, you'll need to see a primary care provider for a urinalysis and a urine culture. You also won't be eligible for online UTI treatment if this is your second UTI within 30 days.

Recurring UTIs can be a sign of antibiotic resistance or an underlying condition that may need evaluation and treatment.

Question 6

If I'm prescribed UTI antibiotics, can I also request a prescription for the vaginal yeast infection I know I'm going to get?

Answer

It's not uncommon for women to develop a yeast infection after taking a course of oral antibiotics. If your Amazon One Medical provider prescribes antibiotics for a UTI and you develop new symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection—such as itching or clumpy white discharge—we recommend that you use the 14-day messaging window included in your UTI treatment to contact your care team and request antifungal treatment.

If you develop yeast infection symptoms beyond the 14-day messaging window included in your UTI treatment, you'll need to request care for a vaginal yeast infection.

Question 7

What about Pyridium?

Answer

Phenazopyridine (Pyridium) is an optional medication that can be prescribed to relieve bladder pain, but it won’t shorten the duration of a UTI. Only antibiotics will ultimately clear the infection and the pain associated with it.

Question 8

Would cranberry juice or tablets help my UTI?

Answer

Some studies have indicated that drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry tablets daily can help prevent UTIs, but will not treat the UTI once you have it. If you enjoy drinking cranberry juice and you feel that it helps you, there’s no harm in trying it (unless you're on a blood-thinning medication, in which case cranberry juice should be avoided).

Question 9

Clinical sources

Answer

1. Gupta, K., Hooton, T. M., Naber, K. G., Wullt, B., Colgan, R., Miller, L. G., Moran, G. J., Nicolle, L. E., Raz, R., Schaeffer, A. J., Soper, D. E., Infectious Diseases Society of America, & European Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (2011). International clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of acute uncomplicated cystitis and pyelonephritis in women: A 2010 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the European Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, 52(5), e103–e120.

Your account has an Amazon One Medical Membership

With your membership you can:

Urinary tract infection (UTI) treatment

How it works

Common UTI medications

Antibiotics

What is a urinary tract infection?

What are UTI symptoms?

Frequently asked questions