Could it be a UTI?
- Burning or stinging when you pee
- Needing to go often, but only a small amount comes out
- Pressure or cramping in your lower belly
- Cloudy, dark, or strong-smelling urine
- Blood in your urine
What causes UTIs
Most UTIs happen when bacteria — usually E. coli from the GI tract — get into the urethra and travel up to the bladder. Women get them more often because of shorter anatomy.
Sex, dehydration, holding urine too long, certain birth control methods, and menopause can all raise your risk.
How testing works
We do a quick in-office urine test (urinalysis) that takes a few minutes. Most uncomplicated UTIs can be treated immediately based on results, with antibiotics that work within 24–48 hours.
If symptoms keep coming back, we may send a culture to identify exactly which antibiotic will work best.
What to do until you're seen
Drink water — lots of it. Avoid coffee, alcohol, and citrus, which can irritate the bladder. Over-the-counter phenazopyridine (AZO) can ease the burning short-term, but it doesn't treat the infection.
Come to urgent care for:
- Burning, urgency, or frequency
- Lower belly pressure or pelvic pain
- Blood in your urine
- You've had UTIs before and recognize the symptoms
Go to the ER (or call 911) for:
- Fever over 101°F with shaking chills
- Severe back or side pain (kidney involvement)
- Nausea and vomiting that prevents fluids
- Confusion (especially in older adults)
Frequently asked
Can a UTI go away on its own?
Sometimes very mild ones do, but most need antibiotics. Untreated UTIs can travel to the kidneys and become much more serious.
Will cranberry juice cure my UTI?
No. Cranberry may help prevent some UTIs but it doesn't treat an active infection. You need antibiotics.
How fast will I feel better?
Most patients feel relief within 24–48 hours of starting antibiotics. Always finish the full course.