A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the bladder, urethra or kidneys. UTIs are very common in women. About 1 in 2 women will have at least one in their life. Most bladder infections clear up quickly with treatment.

Emergency

Call triple zero (000) or go to your nearest emergency department if you have UTI symptoms and:

• confusion, drowsiness or trouble staying awake (in older people, sudden confusion may be the only sign)
• fast breathing, a racing heart, or cold, clammy or blotchy skin
• a high fever with shaking chills and vomiting
• severe pain in your back or side with a fever
• you cannot keep fluids or medicines down

These can be signs of a kidney infection or sepsis.

Key points

• A UTI happens when bacteria get into the urinary tract. Most are caused by E. coli, a bacterium that normally lives in the bowel.
• About 1 in 2 women will have a UTI at some point.
• Common symptoms are burning when you pee, needing to pee often, and pain low in your abdomen.
• Most bladder infections are treated with a short course of antibiotics. A GP or pharmacist can treat an uncomplicated UTI.
• Get help urgently if you are pregnant, or have a fever or pain in your back or side.
• A Doccy consultation can help with medical certificates and continuing your usual medicine.

What is a UTI?

Your urinary tract includes your kidneys, bladder and the tubes that carry urine. The ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. The urethra carries urine out of your body.

Most UTIs affect the bladder. This is called cystitis. If the infection spreads up to the kidneys, it is called a kidney infection (pyelonephritis). This is more serious.

UTIs are more common in women because the urethra is short. Bacteria do not have far to travel to reach the bladder.

Some women get UTIs often. This is called recurrent UTI. It means 2 or more UTIs in 6 months, or 3 or more in a year.

Symptoms of a UTI

Bladder infection symptoms often come on quickly. They include:

• burning or stinging when you pee
• needing to pee often or urgently
• feeling like your bladder is not empty after you go
• pain or pressure low in your abdomen
• cloudy, dark or strong-smelling urine
• blood in your urine, which can look pink or red

In older women, a UTI may cause tiredness, confusion or a change in behaviour instead.

A kidney infection usually causes more severe symptoms. These include pain in your back or side, a high fever, chills, nausea and vomiting.

When to see a doctor

If you have any of the signs in the emergency box at the top of this page, call triple zero (000) or go to your nearest emergency department.

Get an urgent GP appointment, or call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for advice, if:

• you are pregnant and have UTI symptoms
• you have pain in your back or side, or a fever
• your symptoms are not better after 48 hours of antibiotics
• you have diabetes, a weakened immune system or kidney problems

See a GP if:

• your symptoms last more than a day or two
• you have blood in your urine
• you keep getting UTIs (2 in 6 months or 3 in a year)
• your symptoms come back soon after treatment

UTIs in pregnancy need prompt treatment, because an untreated infection can lead to a kidney infection and problems for the baby.

Causes and risk factors

Most UTIs are caused by E. coli bacteria from the bowel. The urethra is close to the anus in women, so bacteria can spread easily.

You are more likely to get a UTI if you:

• have had UTIs before
• have sex often (3 or more times a week) or with a new partner (sometimes called "honeymoon cystitis")
• use a diaphragm or spermicide for contraception
• have been through menopause, as lower oestrogen thins the tissue around the urethra
• are pregnant
• do not drink enough water, or hold on when you need to pee
• have diabetes, or a weakened immune system (for example from steroid medicines or chemotherapy)
• smoke
• have kidney stones, a prolapse, a problem with the shape of your urinary tract, or a bladder that does not empty fully (for example because of a nerve condition)
• use a urinary catheter

Read more about kidney stones.

UTIs are not a sexually transmitted infection. But some sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, can cause similar symptoms.

How UTIs are diagnosed

A doctor or pharmacist can often diagnose a simple bladder infection from your symptoms. They will ask about your symptoms, past UTIs and whether you could be pregnant.

Your doctor may ask for a urine sample. You catch the urine midway through peeing in a sterile container. It can be tested straight away with a dipstick, or sent to a lab. A lab test (urine culture) shows which bacteria are causing the infection and which antibiotics will work.

A urine culture is especially useful if:

• you are pregnant
• you get recurrent UTIs
• your symptoms are unusual
• your first antibiotics did not work

Scans, such as an ultrasound, are not usually needed. Your doctor may suggest one if you keep getting UTIs or are not getting better with treatment.

Treatment for UTIs

Antibiotics: Most bladder infections are treated with a short course of antibiotics, usually for 3 to 5 days. Your doctor or pharmacist will choose the right one based on your history, allergies and local resistance. You should start to feel better within 1 to 2 days. Finish the course, even if you feel better.

Pharmacist treatment: Pharmacists in all Australian states and territories can now assess and treat uncomplicated UTIs in eligible women. Your pharmacist will tell you if you need to see a doctor instead.

Kidney infections need antibiotics through a drip into a vein (intravenous antibiotics). This usually means a short stay in hospital. You will then finish a longer course of antibiotic tablets at home.

Pain relief: Paracetamol can ease discomfort while the antibiotics work. Urinary alkalinisers from the pharmacy may ease stinging for some women, but the evidence is limited and they do not treat the infection.

Self-care and prevention

While you have symptoms:

• Drink plenty of water, about 2 litres a day. Aim for pale yellow urine.
• Pee when you need to, and try to empty your bladder fully.
• Use a heat pack on your lower tummy for cramping.
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can irritate the bladder.

To lower your risk of UTIs:

• Pee soon after sex.
• Wipe from front to back after using the toilet.
• Wash your hands before using the toilet, and wash your genital area with a gentle liquid soap rather than bar soap.
• Avoid perfumed soaps, bubble baths and vaginal deodorants.
• Do not hold on when you need to pee.
• Drink 2 to 3 litres of water a day, and limit coffee, tea and soft drinks to 3 or fewer a day.
• Do pelvic floor exercises. A pelvic health physiotherapist can help.
• Keep diabetes well controlled if you have it.
• Wear cotton underwear.

If you get recurrent UTIs, other options may help:

• Cranberry products. A 2023 Cochrane review found they probably reduce UTIs by about a quarter in women who get recurrent infections. They do not treat an active UTI.
• Vaginal oestrogen for women after menopause. A review found it reduced recurrent UTIs by more than half.
• Methenamine hippurate, a non-antibiotic medicine that stops bacteria growing in urine.
• Low-dose preventive antibiotics, taken daily or after sex. These work well but are usually kept for women who still get infections after trying other options.

Talk to your GP about which options suit you.

Outlook

Most bladder infections clear up fully with treatment and cause no lasting harm.

The main risk is the infection spreading to the kidneys. Kidney infections can make you very unwell and usually need a short hospital stay for antibiotics through a drip. Rarely, a UTI can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to infection. The risk is higher in older people, pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system.

Recurrent UTIs can affect your sleep, work and relationships. With the right prevention plan, most women can reduce how often they get them.

How Doccy doctors can help

A Doccy consultation can help if you have UTI symptoms and none of the warning signs on this page. A Doccy consultation can:

• provide a medical certificate if you need time off work or study, or a carer's certificate
• provide a special consideration letter if a UTI has affected a university assessment or deadline
• continue a prescription for medicine you already take, such as vaginal oestrogen or preventive medicine, if it is appropriate

To treat a UTI, see a GP or a pharmacist. A Doccy consultation is not suitable if you have any of the signs in the emergency box, or if you are pregnant.

Resources and support

healthdirect: information on UTIs and a 24-hour nurse advice line on 1800 022 222.

Kidney Health Australia: information on UTIs and kidney health, and a free helpline on 1800 454 363.

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby: advice on UTIs in pregnancy on 1800 882 436.

Jean Hailes for Women's Health: information on bladder health and women's health.

These services and websites can provide extra information, but they do not replace advice from your own doctor.

1. healthdirect. Urinary tract infection (UTI). https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/urinary-tract-infection-uti
2. healthdirect. Kidney infection (pyelonephritis). https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/kidney-infection
3. Kidney Health Australia. Urinary tract infections (UTIs). https://kidney.org.au/your-kidneys/what-is-kidney-disease/types-of-kidney-disease/utis/
4. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) during pregnancy. https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/urinary-tract-infections-utis-during-pregnancy
5. Jarvis TR, Chan L, Gottlieb T. Assessment and management of lower urinary tract infection in adults. Aust Prescr. 2014;37:7-9. https://australianprescriber.tg.org.au/articles/assessment-and-management-of-lower-urinary-tract-infection-in-adults.html
6. Williams G, Stothart CI, Hahn D, et al. Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023;11:CD001321. https://www.cochrane.org/CD001321/RENAL_cranberries-preventing-urinary-tract-infections
7. Chen YY, Su TH, Lau HH. Estrogen for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Int Urogynecol J. 2021;32(1):17-25. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32564121/
8. Victorian Department of Health. Statewide referral criteria: recurrent, uncomplicated urinary tract infection. 2025. https://www.health.vic.gov.au/statewide-referral-criteria/recurrent-uncomplicated-urinary-tract-infection
9. SA Health. Urinary tract infection in pregnancy: South Australian Perinatal Practice Guideline (v4). 2021. https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/4bf52c004eee77c8bfa3bf6a7ac0d6e4/Urinary+Tract+Infection+in+Pregnancy_PPG_v4_0.pdf