Symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) can feel like they go on forever, but how long does a typical UTI last? The answer: It depends on different variables, like treatment with and without antibiotics or if you were assigned female or male at birth.
No matter how long you have symptoms of UTIs, they can be treated. Read on for a closer look at how long it takes for a UTI to clear up, along with some tips on finding relief quickly.
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How long an uncomplicated UTI lasts can vary based on what you do (if anything) to treat it. Sometimes, UTIs can resolve on their own without any treatment. "If untreated, a UTI would typically take about three to seven days to fight off on your own," Courtenay Moore, MD, a urologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told Health.
How Long Does It Take to Flush Out a UTI?
You may be able to get relief from a UTI after one to two days with treatment if it affects your bladder. For kidney infections, UTIs may take up to a week to resolve.
How Long Do UTIs Last in Men?
UTIs can last up to 14 days in cisgender men, though it's less common for men to get UTIs. When they do get this type of infection, it's considered complicated and treated on the same timeline as complicated UTIs in cisgender women.
Men may need to take antibiotics for seven to 14 days if they have a bladder infection. As for kidney infections, men should get care right away to avoid a more serious condition and will probably need to take antibiotics for 14 days.
An uncomplicated UTI is one located in the lower urinary tract (usually the bladder) and doesn't have other factors that could make it more difficult to treat. Complicated UTIs are the opposite. A person may have risk factors that worsen UTIs, resulting in outcomes like treatment failure or recurring infections.
How long a person has a UTI can also be determined based on whether the UTI is uncomplicated or complicated. Uncomplicated UTIs are far more common than complicated UTIs and may get better within a few days; complicated UTIs may last for weeks.
UTI Treatment
Antibiotics are considered the "gold standard" for UTI treatment. With antibiotics, you can see a quicker reduction or elimination of symptoms. This treatment can help resolve some UTIs within two days and others within a week or a little longer.
It's always a good idea to get symptoms of a UTI checked out by a healthcare provider. Healthcare providers often give people who show up with UTI symptoms a prescription for antibiotics that they think will kill the pathogen.
They'll also take a urine sample to see what's going on. Once the lab results come back (usually in a day or two), the healthcare provider may switch you to another antibiotic that's better at killing the particular bacteria responsible for your infection.
You'll usually need to take antibiotics for between three to five days total before the UTI is completely cleared up, Dr. Moore pointed out. While it's tempting to stop taking your meds the moment you feel better, finishing the antibiotics as prescribed is super important. The bacteria that causes the UTI could multiply and create a new infection—one that's harder to treat and could end up lasting longer.
Most of the time, UTIs go away pretty quickly—usually, symptoms stop within a couple of days, and the bacteria completely clear out after you've taken antibiotics for three to seven days. However, there are some things you can do to help speed up the healing process.
Here are some ways that might make a UTI go away faster (or at least help you feel better):
- Stay hydrated and pee often. Staying hydrated can also help you prevent another infection. One found that participants with recurrent bladder infections who drank an additional 1.5 liters of water per day (on top of what they usually drank) had fewer UTIs than those who didn't up their hydration.
- Try over-the-counter pain relievers. Pain meds, like Advil or Tylenol, can help ease some discomfort while you're waiting for the antibiotics to work.
- Use a heating pad. UTIs don't just make peeing uncomfortable—they can also make your back and abdomen sore. A heating pad can help reduce pain and keep you more comfortable.
A Quick Review
While most UTIs last no longer than a week, there are a variety of factors that can influence when you'll finally feel better and when your body will completely clear out the bacteria. For example, a UTI can go away within a day or two of starting treatment, as long as you take the full course of antibiotics to avoid a secondary infection. Ultimately, see a healthcare provider to ensure you get the treatment you need if you have symptoms of UTI.
