When you have a urinary tract infection, a common bacterial infection affecting the bladder, urethra, or kidneys. Also known as bladder infection, it causes burning, frequent urges to pee, and sometimes fever. UTIs aren’t rare—nearly half of all women get one at some point, and men can get them too, especially as they age. The good news? Most are easy to treat if caught early. But wrong treatments or ignoring symptoms can turn a simple infection into something serious, like a kidney infection.
Antibiotics are the standard fix for most UTIs. Drugs like nitrofurantoin, a first-line antibiotic that targets bacteria in the urinary tract, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, a combo drug often used when other options aren’t suitable, or fosfomycin, a single-dose treatment for uncomplicated cases work fast. But not all antibiotics are equal. Some bacteria are becoming resistant, so doctors now pick based on local patterns and your history. And no, drinking cranberry juice alone won’t kill the infection—it might help prevent it, but it’s not a cure.
Home remedies like drinking extra water, urinating often, and using a heating pad can ease symptoms while you wait for antibiotics to kick in. But skipping meds because you "feel better" is a mistake. The bacteria might still be there, hiding and waiting to come back stronger. Some people get recurring UTIs, especially after menopause or with certain conditions like diabetes. For them, low-dose antibiotics or vaginal estrogen might be part of a longer plan. And if you’re a man with a UTI, it’s often a sign something else is going on—like an enlarged prostate—so you’ll need more testing.
You’ll find real-world advice here: which antibiotics are actually prescribed, how to tell if your UTI is getting worse, what to do if you keep getting them, and why some home fixes help while others don’t. No guesswork. Just what works, what doesn’t, and what your doctor might not have time to explain.
Nitrofurantoin is a common UTI antibiotic, but it can cause severe hemolytic anemia in people with G6PD deficiency. Learn who's at risk, what symptoms to watch for, and safer alternatives.
