9 Tips to Ease the Pain — and Hassle — of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

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If you live with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) — defined as at least two UTIs in six months or three in a year — you know how uncomfortable and disruptive symptoms such as pelvic pain and urinary urgency can be.

“Recurrent UTIs can significantly affect quality of life,” says Gina M. Badalato, MD, a urologist and associate professor of urology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City. “Many people experience anxiety about recurrence, sleep disruption from nighttime urination, and reduced productivity at work.”

While antibiotics are the most effective way to treat a UTI, there are steps you can take to ease the pain and discomfort as the medication starts to work, as well as strategies to reduce your risk of future infections:

1. Stay Hydrated

Drinking plenty of water can help flush bacteria out of the urinary tract. It can also dilute urine, so it causes less burning or stinging when you pee.

The exact amount of water you should drink each day depends on factors such as activity level, age, and overall health.

 A good way to tell if you’re drinking enough is to look at the color of your pee. Clear or pale yellow urine is a sign you’re hydrated. If it’s dark yellow or amber, you may need to drink more water.

To increase your water intake throughout the day, always keep a refillable water bottle nearby, and drink water at each meal. Remember that foods with a high water content, such as celery, lettuce, strawberries, and watermelon, can also add to your fluid intake (and add variety).

2. Urinate Frequently

Some people have to urinate frequently when they have a UTI, but if you have burning or stinging, you may try to hold it for as long as possible. Holding in your urine can make the infection worse, though, by allowing bacteria to continue to grow in the urinary tract.

Urinating regularly can help flush bacteria out of the bladder. Try to pee at least once every four hours, making sure to empty your bladder completely.

 If you’re regularly sipping water, you’ll likely find you have to go in that time frame.

3. Use Heat Therapy to Ease Pain

Applying a heating pad to your abdomen or lower back can help reduce pelvic pain and pressure. To avoid burns, use it on a low setting and wrap it in a towel before applying it to your skin. It’s a good idea to use a heating pad for about 10 to 30 minutes at a time.

If you don’t have a heating pad, you could use a warm washcloth or hot water bottle. Or you could make your own by filling a cotton sock with uncooked rice, tying a knot at the end, and putting it in the microwave for short intervals until it’s warm.

4. Consider Pain Relief Medication

UTIs can make peeing hurt and cause pain in the abdomen, lower back, and pelvic region when you’re not urinating. Talk with your doctor about medications that can help provide relief.

“Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can reduce discomfort,” says Dr. Badalato. “Urinary analgesics, such as phenazopyridine, are available without a prescription and can provide short-term relief of urinary burning.”

5. Limit Foods and Drinks That Irritate the Bladder — and Have These Instead

Certain foods and drinks may irritate the bladder and worsen UTI symptoms, including:

  • Alcohol
  • Artificial sweeteners
  • Caffeine
  • Citrus fruits
  • Coffee
  • Soda
  • Spicy foods
  • Tea

You may want to limit or avoid these until the UTI clears up.

What should you eat and drink instead? Good beverage choices include water and cranberry juice (make sure it’s 100% juice, not cranberry juice cocktail, which has added sugar and fewer nutrients).

Eating blueberries may also help prevent bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract.

 And probiotic-rich foods, such as yogurt, kefir, and fermented foods, can help promote the growth of the “good” bacteria that help fight off infections.

6. Wear Loose Clothing

Tight-fitting pants can trap heat and moisture in the genital area, creating an environment that allows bacteria to grow.

Wearing breathable underwear and pants made of moisture-wicking materials, such as polyester, can prevent the buildup of moisture and help you feel more comfortable.

 You should also change out of wet bathing suits and sweaty gym clothes as soon as you’re done swimming or working out.

7. Take Antibiotics as Prescribed

Antibiotics are the standard treatment for UTIs. Your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic based on the type of bacteria causing the symptoms.

You may need to take antibiotics for 3 to 14 days.

Symptoms may start to improve after a couple of days, but you should still take the full course of antibiotics to prevent antibiotic resistance.

If you have recurrent UTIs, your doctor may prescribe a three-day course of antibiotics to keep at home, so you can start treatment as soon as you notice symptoms.

8. Don’t Forget About Your Emotional Health

UTIs don’t just affect your physical health.

 “There is often an emotional toll, including frustration and embarrassment,” says Badalato. “Intimacy may be affected if sexual activity becomes associated with triggering infections.” Your other relationships may be affected, too, if you frequently cancel plans when you have a UTI.

To feel your best when you’re dealing with a UTI, it’s important to address the emotional impact, too. Be kind to yourself, and remember that UTIs are not your fault.

You may benefit from joining a support group to connect with others living with recurrent UTIs or other women’s health issues. Practicing mind-body techniques, such as yoga, deep breathing, and body scans, can help ease both emotional and urinary symptoms — and, according to some research, potentially reduce the risk of UTI recurrence.

9. Prevent Future Infections

Some of the strategies that relieve active UTI symptoms, such as drinking water, urinating frequently, and wearing loose, breathable clothing, can also help reduce your risk of future infections.

These tips can also help:

  • Wipe from front to back after using the toilet.
  • Take showers, or limit baths to under 30 minutes, and avoid using scented products or bath bombs.
  • Wash the genital area daily with a clean, soft washcloth.
  • Urinate before and after sexual activity.
  • Take a single dose of an antibiotic after sex, if recommended by your doctor.
  • Ask your doctor about switching birth control methods if you use contraceptives that increase the risk of UTIs, such as a diaphragm or spermicide.
“In select cases, clinicians may also recommend nonantibiotic preventative treatments, such as high-quality cranberry tablets,” says Badalato. Some research suggests cranberry supplements can help reduce the risk of recurrent UTIs by preventing bacteria from sticking to the bladder.

If you are in perimenopause or menopause, you should also talk to your doctor about topical vaginal estrogen, which reduces dryness and increases good bacteria in the vagina to help prevent infections.

When to See Your Doctor

Most UTIs will clear up with a combination of antibiotics and remedies to manage pain and discomfort. But if symptoms don’t go away or become more severe, let your doctor know.

You should also seek medical care if you develop:

  • Back or side pain
  • Chills
  • Fever
  • Vomiting

UTIs can be painful, frustrating, and emotionally draining — especially when they keep coming back. But a treatment plan that includes antibiotics, lifestyle changes, and long-term prevention strategies can help you find relief and regain control of your bladder health.

The Takeaway

  • Antibiotics are needed to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs), but strategies such as drinking water, urinating regularly, and avoiding bladder irritants can help ease the pain and discomfort as the medication takes effect.
  • Many of the strategies used to relieve symptoms of an active infection can also help reduce the risk of future UTIs.
  • A treatment approach that combines antibiotics, lifestyle changes, and long-term prevention strategies can help you manage the physical and emotional impact of recurrent UTIs.



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