Online UTI and Urinary Tract Infection Treatment
Get UTI treatment online without waiting for a clinic appointment. If it burns every time you pee or you keep feeling the urge to go, a licensed online doctor can review your symptoms and send an antibiotic to the pharmacy you choose when it is medically appropriate. Fever, back pain, or vomiting can be signs of a kidney infection, which needs in-person care.
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- No wait time to see your doctor
- Treatment offered within 5 minutes
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Seamless online UTI care. From first click to last dose
Our simple virtual process delivers complete UTI support, no matter where you are.
Prescriptions sent to local pharmacy
If you need an antibiotic, your prescription is sent electronically to your pharmacy before you hang up.
Personalized diet plan
Get a tailored food and fluid guide to soothe your bladder, flush out bacteria, and speed your recovery.
Urgent sick notes
We’ll issue a sick note on the spot for your UTI so you can take the time off you need without hassle.
How to get online antibiotics for a UTI
Getting virtual care for a urinary tract infection is quick with Your Doctors Online. Here is how it works:
Describe your symptoms
Create your account and tell us about your symptoms and health history. For example, mention if it burns when you pee, if you need to go more often, or if you could be pregnant.
Consult with an online doctor
You’ll connect to a board-certified doctor via chat, audio, or video. The doctor will review your information, ask any follow-up questions, and prescribe medications, if appropriate.
Receive prescription
If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic, it is sent electronically to the pharmacy you choose, so you can pick it up and start treatment the same day.
What are the treatment options for a UTI?
A UTI caused by bacteria is treated with antibiotics. Your doctor will choose the antibiotic and how long you take it based on your symptoms, your health history, and whether the infection could have spread past your bladder. Treatment may include:
- Antibiotics: Medicines such as nitrofurantoin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and fosfomycin are commonly used for a bladder infection. Ciprofloxacin is usually saved for when other options are not suitable because of its risk of serious side effects. Men may need a longer course, since bacteria can move into the prostate.
- Newer options: The FDA has approved newer oral antibiotics for bladder infections in women, such as pivmecillinam and gepotidacin, which give doctors more choices.
- Pain relief: Over-the-counter phenazopyridine can ease burning and urgency for up to 2 days, but it does not treat the infection. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen may also help with pain.
- Fluids and warmth: Drinking more liquids helps flush bacteria out of your urinary tract, and a heating pad on your back or belly may ease the pain.
- Urine testing when needed: If your UTIs keep coming back or your symptoms do not improve, your doctor can issue a lab requisition for a urine culture that you can take to a lab near you.
- Help with repeat infections: If you are in perimenopause or menopause, your doctor may prescribe low-dose vaginal estrogen to help prevent new infections.
With Your Doctors Online, you can talk to a doctor from home 24/7 and get an online antibiotics prescription sent to your pharmacy when it is medically appropriate. If you need time off to recover, you can also request an online doctor’s note.
What UTI antibiotics can we prescribe online?
The right antibiotic depends on your symptoms, your health history, and any allergies you have. These are some of the antibiotics our doctors may prescribe for a UTI when medically appropriate:
Macrobid
Antibiotic
Bactrim
Antibiotic
Fosfomycin
Antibiotic
Cephalexin
Antibiotic
Amoxicillin
Antibiotic
Ciprofloxacin
Antibiotic
What is a urinary tract infection (UTI)?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection anywhere in your urinary tract, which includes your bladder, urethra, and kidneys. Most UTIs are bladder infections, also called cystitis. A kidney infection is less common but more serious.
A UTI happens when bacteria, often from the skin or rectum, get into the urethra and travel up into the bladder. You may be more likely to get a UTI if you:
- Are female, since the urethra is shorter and closer to the rectum
- Have recently had sex
- Use a diaphragm or spermicide for birth control
- Are pregnant or have gone through menopause
- Have an enlarged prostate, kidney stones, or anything that blocks the flow of urine
- Have diabetes or use a urinary catheter
- Have had a UTI before
A UTI is not a sexually transmitted infection, even though sex can raise your chances of getting one.
What are the symptoms of a UTI?
The most common sign of a UTI is pain or burning when you pee. Other symptoms of a bladder infection can include:
- Needing to pee often, even when only a little comes out
- A strong urge to pee right after you have emptied your bladder
- Pressure or cramping in your lower belly or pelvis
- Cloudy, bloody, or strong-smelling urine
- A low fever in some people
In older adults, confusion or other mental changes may be the only sign of a UTI. Burning when you pee can also be a sign of a sexually transmitted infection (STI), so your doctor may talk to you about STI testing.
When is a UTI a kidney infection?
A UTI becomes a kidney infection when a bladder infection spreads to one or both kidneys. This can happen when a bladder infection is not treated or does not go away. Signs that a UTI may have reached your kidneys include:
- Fever and chills
- Pain in your back, side, or groin
- Nausea or vomiting
- Feeling very tired or generally unwell
Get medical care right away if you have these signs, since a kidney infection usually needs an in-person exam. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you also have confusion, fast breathing, a racing heart, or shortness of breath, which can be signs of sepsis. You may also need hospital care if you cannot keep fluids or medicine down, or if you are pregnant and have a fever.
If you only have bladder symptoms, such as burning and needing to pee often, you can talk to a doctor online and start treatment from home.
Meet our online doctors prescribing antibiotics for UTI
Dr. Richard Honaker is a board-certified physician with more than 40 years of experience in family and emergency medicine. He serves as Chief Medical Advisor at Your Doctors Online and is affiliated with Medical City Plano in Texas. Recognized multiple times by D Magazine and Texas Monthly, Dr. Honaker provides evidence-based care across a wide range of conditions including diabetes, hypertension, and injury care.
Dr. Monique Rainford is an OB/GYN expert and Assistant Clinical Professor at Yale School of Medicine. With 25+ years of experience, she’s led OB/GYN departments at Yale Health and Baltimore Medical System. Her clinical interests include pregnancy, menstrual health, chronic pelvic conditions, and lifestyle medicine. Dr. Rainford advocates for maternal health equity, especially in underserved communities.
Dr. Candice Fraser is an OB/GYN practitioner and founder of Trinity Medical Care. With over a decade of experience, she focuses on reproductive care, menstrual health, and menopause management. Along with medical training and residency, she also holds an MBA in healthcare management, blending business insight with clinical excellence.
Frequently asked questions
Where to get UTI antibiotics?
You can get antibiotics for a UTI after consulting a doctor. Once you have a valid prescription, you can get the medications at any local pharmacy. Simply complete a telehealth visit or in-person exam, and your doctor will e-prescribe the appropriate antibiotic directly to the pharmacy of your choice. Most local pharmacies stock first-line UTI medications and offer same-day pickup or delivery options.
How fast will I feel better after starting the antibiotic?
Antibiotics can help you get rid of a UTI quickly. Most people start to feel better soon after starting treatment, and bladder infection symptoms most often go away within 24 to 48 hours. A kidney infection may take a week or longer. Keep taking every dose as prescribed, even once you feel better. Here are a few signs indicating that the UTI is going away with antibiotics:
- Less pain and burning when you pee
- Needing to pee less often
- Less pain in your lower belly
Talk to a doctor if your symptoms do not improve or get worse after starting antibiotics.
Can a UTI go away on its own?
Sometimes a mild bladder infection clears up on its own, but there is no way to know ahead of time whether yours will. If a bladder infection is not treated or does not go away, it can spread to one or both kidneys, which is more serious. Drinking plenty of water can help, but most UTIs need antibiotics, so talk to a doctor rather than waiting it out.
Is telehealth UTI treatment effective?
Yes. A doctor can often diagnose a UTI by asking about your symptoms, which is what happens during a telehealth visit, and can order a urine test if needed. In a large study, few people needed another visit within a week after an online visit for a UTI. Signs of a kidney infection, such as fever or back pain, need in-person care.
Can you have sex with a UTI?
Although a UTI is not sexually transmitted, it is still recommended not to have sex when you are experiencing UTI symptoms. Having sex while you’re infected can worsen irritation and potentially introduce new bacteria into the urinary tract. It’s best to avoid sexual activity until you’ve started antibiotics and your symptoms have improved.
What is the difference between a urinary tract infection and a bladder infection (cystitis)?
A urinary tract infection involves any or all of the following areas: the ureters, kidneys, urethra, and/or bladder. A bladder infection (cystitis) is limited to the bladder, and it is the most common type of UTI.
Are bananas good for urinary tract infections (UTI)?
Bananas do not cure a UTI, and no food can replace antibiotics for a bacterial infection. What helps most while you recover is drinking plenty of liquids, especially water, which helps flush bacteria out of your urinary tract. Bananas are a mild food that is fine to eat as part of a normal diet.
Can I get UTI medications over the counter?
No. Over-the-counter urinary pain relievers that contain phenazopyridine can ease burning, urgency, and frequency for up to 2 days, but they do not treat the infection, and they turn your urine reddish-orange. A prescription-strength version, Pyridium, is also available. Only prescription antibiotics, such as nitrofurantoin or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, can clear a bacterial UTI. Always consult a licensed physician in person or via telehealth before starting antibiotics to ensure effective treatment and avoid antibiotic resistance.
What is the leading cause of UTI in females?
The leading cause of urinary tract infections in females is the proximity of the urethra to the anus and a shorter urethra that makes it simpler for bacteria from the digestive system, notably Escherichia coli (E. coli), to enter and infect the urinary tract. In addition, women who engage in sexual activity, are pregnant, going through menopause, or use certain forms of birth control, including diaphragms or spermicides, are at risk of developing UTIs.
How can I prevent future UTIs?
Following evidence-based strategies can help reduce your risk of getting another UTI:
- Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, throughout the day.
- Don’t hold urine too long, as retained urine can promote bacterial growth.
- Try to urinate soon after intercourse.
- Steer clear of douches, harsh soaps, or perfumed feminine hygiene sprays in the genital area.
- Avoid extremely tight-fitting pants when possible.
If you have three or more episodes of UTI in a year, or two or more in 6 months, or see blood in urine or when you wipe, talk to a doctor.
