Home Remedies You Should Know For A UTI

There is nothing that can throw your mood off course faster than a UTI. A UTI can seemingly strike out of nowhere, ruining weddings, vacations, and countless other events. They're uncomfortable and inconvenient. 

Also known as a urinary tract infection, a UTI occurs mainly in women but will affect one in every ten men in their lifetime. UTIs are commonly caused by fecal matter that travels from the anus through the urethra, which is the main reason why doctors tell women to wipe front to back rather than back to front. Because bacteria can also enter the urethra following sexual intercourse, it's also highly recommended to pee afterward (via WebMD).

Symptoms of a UTI most commonly appear in the form of a burning feeling when you urinate, a need to urinate much more often than usual throughout the day, and pain or pressure in your lower back. If you begin to experience fever and chills, this can be a sign that the infection has spread to your kidneys, in which case you should seek immediate medical attention. 

If your infection is minor, it's still best to consult with a doctor, but if you can't quite get to your physician in time or it's not bad enough to require antibiotics, there are some steps you can take at home to treat the symptoms and get the infection out of your system quicker.

According to Medical News Today, 25–42% of UTIs are able to clear up on their own. As with almost any minor illness, one of the best things you can do when you have a urinary tract infection is to make sure that you're drinking tons of water. Water acts as a filter that helps your urinary organs flush out bacteria. It also allows urine to pass through more quickly and become more diluted, which keeps it from infecting the cells lining the urinary organs. You will also want to avoid holding your urine for any period of time to reduce the amount of time that bacteria have to take hold.

You've likely also heard that cranberry juice can help prevent UTIs. While it's true that the juice contains a tannin that is believed to prevent E.coli bacteria from causing an infection, this has not yet been proven (via WebMD). Instead of chugging bottle after bottle of Ocean Spray, head to your local drugstore and pick up some Azo. According to the brand's website, such products slow down the growth of the infection and control the frequency of urination and the burning sensation that occurs.

A trip to the doctor is always a good idea if you're coming down with a UTI, but in the meantime, you may want to try some of these tricks to clear the infection on your own.