UTI Bath Remedies

UTI Bath Remedies and Other Treatment Options

Urinary tract infections (UTI) can be painful and distracting. A urinary tract infection is an infection in any part of your urinary system. Your urinary system includes your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

Will a Bath Help a UTI?

A bath may help relieve some pain from your UTI, but it will not cure it and could make it worse. Taking a bath in the tub may cause bacteria in the bathwater to enter into the urethra causing more harm.

A UTI bath remedy is often referred to as a “sitz bath.” A sitz bath is a warm, shallow bath used to cleanse the genital area, especially the area between your rectum and vulva. Sitz baths can ease the pain of a UTI but are not a reliable solution for UTI treatment and are not recommended by medical professionals.

1
Book on our free mobile app or website.
Our doctors operate in all 50 states and same day appointments are available every 15 minutes.
2
See a doctor, get treatment and a prescription at your local pharmacy.
3
Use your health insurance just like you normally would to see your doctor.

Book an appointment

Natural Remedies for a UTI

There are other natural remedies for UTIs that may be worth a try for symptom relief.

Natural remedies for a UTI are common. One common natural remedy for a UTI is to increase your fluid intake. That is, drink more water! Drinking more water will make you produce more urine, thus flushing out the bacteria from your urinary tract. This helps flush out the bacteria and helps you heal faster.

Probiotics are used as natural remedies for gut and vagina health. Your body is full of “good” and “bad” bacteria. When the “bad” bacteria overgrow the “good” bacteria, an infection is present. Probiotics help keep the good bacteria more colonized than the “bad” bacteria. A probiotic is a live microorganism that has health benefits. Probiotics can be found in yogurt, fermented foods, and dietary supplements.

If your urine passes through your urinary system, then making your urine acidic would also kill certain bacteria causing the infection. Taking vitamin C tablets can result in more acidic urine which will kill urinary bacteria.

If you do not want to take a vitamin C tablet, these foods are high in vitamin C:

Oranges
Grapefruit
Kiwi
Citrus fruits
Tomatoes
Tomato juice
Red peppers
Green peppers
Broccoli
Strawberries
Brussel sprouts

Another home remedy for UTIs include drinking unsweetened cranberry juice. Cranberries work by preventing bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall lining. Cranberry juice is used to help reduce the risk of urinary tract infection and is only applicable with unsweetened juice, not the sweetened brands.

Having good hygiene is another remedy for a UTI. Women especially should practice cleaning themselves from front to back after using the restroom. If you wipe from back to front, you move fecal particles towards your urinary opening. Allowing bacteria to enter more freely. Good hygiene practices decrease the risk of recurrent UTIs.

How To Prevent UTIs

If you are prone to UTIs it is better to be proactive against UTI infections than reactive. Some proactive tips to prevent future UTIs include:

Drink plenty of liquids, especially water
Drink pure cranberry juice (low sugar)
Wipe from front to back after using the restroom
Empty your bladder soon after intercourse
Avoid potentially irritating feminine products such as sprays or deodorants
Wear cotton underwear
Avoid too tight-fitting clothes
Avoid bubble baths

What Are The Symptoms of a UTI?

Urinary tract infections are often associated with painful urination that has frequency or hesitancy. Some common signs and symptoms of a UTI are:

Burning sensation while urinating
A strong persistent urge to urinate
Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
Urine that appears cloudy
Urine that has a strong odor
Urine that appears bloody, bright pink, or cola colored.
Pelvic pain
Fever

Women are more at risk than men to developing urinary tract infections. Urinary tract infections usually occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra and begin to multiply in the bladder or other parts of the urinary tract.

Read: What is Interstitial Cystitis?

How Can I Get Relief From a UTI?

Drinking liberal amounts of fluids daily will flush out the bacteria. It may be helpful to drink pure cranberry juice because it contains an ingredient called A-type proanthocyanidins that can prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall.

It is best to avoid coffee, tea, colas, alcohol, and other fluids that are known to irritate the urinary system. Taking a vitamin C supplement may also help with UTIs because it makes your urine more acidic.

Pain relief such as a heat pack can be applied to the perineum area or lower abdomen to help relieve pain and spasms. This is also why prolonged warm baths relieve pain, but due to the risk of bacteria entering the urethra, they should be avoided.

How Do You Get Rid of a UTI in 24 Hours?

You cannot automatically get rid of a UTI in 24 hours, but you can get relief from symptoms within 24 hours. The pain associated with UTIs are quickly relieved once effective antimicrobial therapy is initiated.

Antibiotics are the first line of treatment for a UTI and work the fastest as they quickly eliminate bacteria. Many people report feeling relief from antibiotics in as little as 24 hours.

1
Book on our free mobile app or website.
Our doctors operate in all 50 states and same day appointments are available every 15 minutes.
2
See a doctor, get treatment and a prescription at your local pharmacy.
3
Use your health insurance just like you normally would to see your doctor.

Book an appointment

Untreated UTI and Complicated UTI

Ignoring the signs of a UTI can cause serious complications. Some complications of an untreated UTI include:

Urosepsis (severe urinary tract infection causing sepsis)
Sepsis (the body`s reaction to infection damages tissues)
Acute kidney injury (kidney damage)
Kidney infection (severe UTI infection)

These complications are potentially life threatening. Never let your UTI go untreated and seek medical help immediately if you experience symptoms of the above conditions.

How Can I Get Rid of a UTI Without Antibiotics?

If you frequently get UTIs you may be able to identify the early signs of a UTI and prevent it from getting more serious without antibiotics using the above natural remedies.

That said, some UTIs will require antibiotic treatment and it is important to know when to call a doctor in order to reduce the risk of serious complications.

If you catch your UTI early, some over the counter UTI remedies you can try for symptoms management are:

AZO urinary tract defense
AZO urinary pain relief
AZO urinary pain relief-maximum strength

That said, if your UTI does not go away or gets worse over time it is critical that you seek medical attention.

1
Book on our free mobile app or website.
Our doctors operate in all 50 states and same day appointments are available every 15 minutes.
2
See a doctor, get treatment and a prescription at your local pharmacy.
3
Use your health insurance just like you normally would to see your doctor.

Book an appointment

UTI online treatment online

If natural remedies are not providing relief, you need to see a doctor to talk about your urinary tract infection symptoms. You may need antibiotic therapy in order to cure the infection and not have complications.

A board-certified PlushCare doctor can work with you to diagnose your UTI and prescribe a treatment plan all from your phone or computer. The doctor will work with you to determine the best medication for you to take and will check on you to ensure the care plan is working. You can get this care without even leaving home.

Book an online appointment here, or download the free PlushCare mobile app. The average UTI appointment lasts just 15 minutes and 97% of conditions are successfully treated on the first visit. Don't suffer with a UTI any longer, same day appointments are available.