Fact sheet

Urinary Tract Infection

A bladder infection, usually from bowel bacteria. Burning, frequent, urgent weeing. About half of women get one at some point. Quick to treat; the trick is stopping repeats.

The UTI ladder

Steps 1 to 3 treat an infection. Steps 4 to 7 prevent repeats if you keep getting them.

  1. Step 1 · Self-carePain relief and fluidsParacetamol or an anti-inflammatory, plus water, while you sort out treatment.
    Works
    About 2 in 3 women recovered without antibiotics in a trial, but symptoms lasted longer and kidney infections were more common
    Cost
    About $5–15
    How long
    A day or two
    Watch for
    Fever, back pain or vomiting: that’s not a ‘wait and see’ UTI

    Fine as a bridge, not as the whole plan.

  2. Step 2 · PharmacyUrine alkalinisersSachets that make urine less acidic.
    Works
    No good trials; may ease stinging but don’t treat the infection
    Cost
    About $10–15
    How long
    A day or two
    Watch for
    Not with the antibiotic nitrofurantoin (stops it working), or with kidney disease or a low-salt diet

    Comfort, not cure.

  3. Step 3 · PrescriptionShort course of antibioticsUsually trimethoprim, nitrofurantoin or cefalexin. From your GP, or a trained pharmacist in any state or territory for uncomplicated UTIs in women (age limits vary).
    Works
    About 9 in 10 better by day 7 vs 5 in 10 on a dummy treatment; most feel better within 1–3 days
    Cost
    Under the $25 PBS co-payment, about $20–25 (or a private price from a pharmacist), plus any consult fee
    How long
    3–5 days for most women
    Watch for
    Nausea, diarrhoea, thrush. Tell them if you’re pregnant

    Not better after 2 days? That’s a GP visit, not a second box of sachets.

  4. Step 4 · Self-carePrevention: more waterAim for an extra 1.5 litres a day if you don’t drink much.
    Works
    Roughly halved repeat UTIs (about 1.7 vs 3.2 a year) in women who drank little
    Cost
    Free
    How long
    Ongoing
    Watch for
    Not if you’ve been told to limit fluids (some heart or kidney conditions)

    The cheapest prevention on this page comes out of a tap.

  5. Step 5 · PharmacyPrevention: cranberry productsCapsules, tablets or juice taken daily.
    Works
    Probably cuts repeat UTIs by about a quarter in women who get them often
    Cost
    About $20–40 a month
    How long
    Ongoing; judge over 6 months
    Watch for
    Juice is sugary; capsules are easier

    Modest, but real. Unlike D-mannose.

  6. Step 6 · PrescriptionPrevention: vaginal oestrogen (after menopause)A low-dose cream, pessary or tablet used in the vagina.
    Works
    Cut repeat UTIs by about a third to three-quarters in two small trials after menopause
    Cost
    About $25 or less on the PBS ($7.70 concession)
    How long
    Twice a week, long term
    Watch for
    Mild irritation or discharge. Very little reaches the bloodstream

    Underused, effective and gentle.

  7. Step 7 · PrescriptionPrevention: methenamine tabletsA non-antibiotic tablet taken daily.
    Works
    Close to daily antibiotics in a large UK trial: about 1.4 vs 0.9 UTIs a year, without breeding resistance
    Cost
    $25 per script on the PBS ($7.70 concession), about 7 weeks’ supply
    How long
    Twice a day, often 6–12 months
    Watch for
    Nausea, rash. Not with severe kidney or liver disease, or with urine alkalinisers

    Prevention without breeding resistant bugs.

Costs are rough Australian prices in October 2026 and vary by pharmacy. PBS co-payment: $25, or $7.70 with a concession card. Results are typical figures from trials: your bladder didn’t read them.

Save your money

Popular, heavily marketed or often asked about, but the evidence is weak or says no.

What you can do

See your GP if

See a doctor the same day for fever, shivers, back or side pain, or vomiting. These can mean a kidney infection.

Common questions

How quickly do antibiotics work for a UTI?

Symptoms usually improve within 1 to 3 days, and most women need a 3 to 5 day course. See your GP if you’re no better after 2 days of antibiotics.

Does cranberry prevent UTIs?

A 2023 Cochrane review found cranberry products probably reduce repeat UTIs by about a quarter in women who get them often.

Does D-mannose prevent UTIs?

A large 2024 trial found it didn’t prevent repeat UTIs.

When is a UTI serious?

See a doctor the same day for fever, shivers, back or side pain, or vomiting, as these can mean a kidney infection.

What causes UTIs?

Bacteria from the bowel, usually E. coli, travelling up the urethra into the bladder. Sex, menopause, not emptying the bladder fully, pregnancy, diabetes and catheters all raise the risk. Women get UTIs far more often because the urethra is short.

Can a UTI go away on its own?

Sometimes. In placebo-controlled trials, roughly a quarter to 4 in 10 women with mild bladder infections were better or improved within about a week without antibiotics. Antibiotics clear symptoms faster and lower the small risk of a kidney infection, so see a GP or pharmacist if symptoms don’t settle within a day or two.

Can men get UTIs?

Yes, though they’re much less common. A UTI in a man always needs a doctor’s assessment and a urine test, because it can involve the prostate and usually needs a longer course of antibiotics.

Helpful resources

Evidence and more information

Updated 28 October 2026. General education, not personal medical advice. Treatment depends on your situation, so talk to your GP or pharmacist.

Related

maladywise.com/uti/