Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

Immune & Inflammation Support CareWomen's Health
Written By Jennifer Tang

Overview

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that can affect the bladder, urethra, ureters, or kidneys. Most UTIs involve the lower urinary tract, particularly the bladder, and can cause burning with urination, frequent or urgent urination, lower abdominal discomfort, and changes in the urine.¹˒²

At Tangible Health, we take an evidence-informed approach that distinguishes between active UTI treatment and recurrent UTI prevention. When an infection is suspected, appropriate medical assessment and treatment come first. For people experiencing repeated UTIs, naturopathic care may help identify contributing factors and support hydration, lifestyle, menopause-related urinary health, and other individualized prevention strategies.

What Are Urinary Tract Infections?

UTIs occur when microorganisms, most commonly bacteria, enter and multiply within the urinary tract. E. coli, a bacterium normally found in the intestinal tract, causes the majority of uncomplicated UTIs.¹

UTIs can occur in different parts of the urinary system:

  • Cystitis — infection of the bladder

  • Urethritis — inflammation or infection involving the urethra

  • Pyelonephritis — infection involving one or both kidneys¹

Bladder infections are common and usually treatable, but an infection that spreads to the kidneys can become significantly more serious.¹˒² A recurrent UTI is generally defined as having at least two UTIs within six months or three within one year.¹

Common Symptoms of UTIs

Symptoms vary depending on where the infection is located.

Common bladder UTI symptoms include:

  • Burning or pain when urinating

  • Frequent need to urinate

  • Sudden or strong urinary urgency

  • Passing only small amounts of urine

  • Lower abdominal or bladder discomfort

  • Cloudy or strong-smelling urine

  • Blood in the urine²

Possible kidney infection symptoms include:

  • Fever or chills

  • Pain in the back, side, or flank

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Feeling significantly unwell¹˒²

Kidney-infection symptoms require prompt medical assessment, as these infections can lead to serious complications if they are not treated appropriately.

Causes & Contributing Factors

Most UTIs occur when bacteria enter through the urethra and travel into the bladder.¹ Several factors can increase the likelihood of developing UTIs or experiencing recurrent infections.

Anatomy & Sexual Activity
UTIs are more common in women because the urethra is shorter, allowing bacteria easier access to the bladder. Sexual activity can also increase the likelihood of bacteria entering the urethra.¹ Certain contraceptive methods, particularly spermicides and diaphragms, may increase UTI risk in some people.³

Menopause & Hormonal Changes
Lower estrogen levels during perimenopause and menopause can change the vaginal and urinary environment and increase susceptibility to recurrent UTIs.¹˒³˒⁵ For some peri- and postmenopausal women with recurrent UTIs, low-dose vaginal estrogen may be recommended by an appropriate healthcare provider to help reduce recurrence.⁴˒⁵

Other Health Factors
UTI risk may also be increased by:

  • Difficulty fully emptying the bladder

  • Kidney stones or urinary tract abnormalities

  • Urinary catheter use

  • Diabetes

  • Certain conditions or medications affecting immune function¹

Understanding whether there is a recurring pattern can help determine which prevention strategies may be most useful.

Our Approach to Urinary Tract Infections

At Tangible Health, our approach depends on whether you are experiencing current UTI symptoms or repeated infections over time.

Your Current Symptoms
If you have symptoms of an active UTI, our first priority is making sure you receive appropriate assessment and treatment. Bacterial bladder infections are commonly treated with antibiotics.³ Naturopathic therapies should not be used to delay necessary medical treatment, particularly when symptoms suggest that an infection may be spreading to the kidneys.

Your Recurrence Pattern
For recurrent UTIs, we look at when infections occur and whether there are recognizable contributing factors. This may include sexual activity, contraception, hydration, bladder-emptying habits, menopause-related changes, previous urine cultures, antibiotic use, medications, and other urinary or medical conditions.

Your Prevention Plan
Prevention strategies depend on your individual risk factors. Care may include supporting adequate hydration, discussing evidence-informed non-antibiotic prevention options, reviewing menopause-related urinary health, and coordinating with your medical provider when additional investigation or preventative medication may be appropriate.

Your Goals
Your goals may include reducing how often UTIs occur, understanding why infections keep returning, navigating prevention options, supporting urinary health during menopause, or feeling more confident about when symptoms require medical treatment.

Treatments That May Be Included

Your recurrent UTI prevention plan may include:

  • Clinical nutrition to support adequate nutrition and hydration

  • Lifestyle medicine to support hydration, bladder habits, and other modifiable risk factors

  • Nutraceuticals & supplements when appropriate; cranberry products may be considered as one prevention option for recurrent UTIs⁴

  • Menopause-related urinary support including discussion of whether vaginal estrogen may be appropriate with a qualified prescriber⁴˒⁵

  • Medication and supplement review to identify relevant interactions or contributing factors

  • Collaborative care with your family doctor, nurse practitioner, gynecologist, urologist, or other healthcare providers when needed

What to Expect

Initial Assessment
We begin by reviewing your current symptoms, previous UTIs, urine test or culture results, antibiotic history, timing and triggers of infections, medications and supplements, hydration, sexual and reproductive health, contraception, menopause status, and relevant medical history.

Targeted Testing
When a UTI is suspected, testing may include urinalysis and/or urine culture, depending on your symptoms and clinical situation.¹ For recurrent infections, documented urine results can help confirm that repeated symptoms are truly caused by bacterial UTIs and guide appropriate treatment.

Personalized Plan
Your plan depends on whether the priority is acute medical treatment, preventing future infections, or investigating recurrent urinary symptoms. Recommendations may include hydration and lifestyle strategies, individualized supplementation, menopause-related urinary support, and coordination with your medical team.

Ongoing Support
If infections continue to recur, follow-up allows us to review patterns, test results, response to prevention strategies, and whether further medical or urologic assessment is appropriate.

When to Seek Support for UTIs

Speak with a healthcare provider if you experience:

  • Burning or pain during urination

  • Frequent or urgent urination

  • Blood in the urine

  • Persistent lower abdominal or bladder discomfort

  • Symptoms that return after treatment

  • Two UTIs within six months or three within one year

  • Recurrent urinary symptoms with negative urine tests

  • Frequent UTIs during perimenopause or menopause

Seek prompt medical care if you develop:

  • Fever or chills

  • Pain in your back or side

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Symptoms that are rapidly worsening

  • Significant illness or weakness

These symptoms may indicate that an infection has reached the kidneys.¹˒²

Book An Appointment

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Common UTI symptoms include burning when you urinate, frequent or urgent urination, lower abdominal discomfort, and cloudy or bloody urine.²

  • Bacterial bladder infections are commonly treated with antibiotics. If you think you have a UTI, it is best to get appropriate medical guidance rather than relying on natural treatments to clear an active infection.³

  • Recurrent UTIs can be associated with factors such as sexual activity, anatomy, menopause, certain contraceptives, difficulty emptying the bladder, or other urinary and medical conditions.¹˒³

  • Recurrent UTI generally means having two or more infections within six months or three or more within one year.¹

  • Sexual activity can increase the chance of bacteria entering the urethra and is a common trigger for UTIs in some people. A UTI itself is not considered a sexually transmitted infection.¹

  • Lower estrogen levels can change vaginal tissues and bacteria in ways that make UTIs more likely. Vaginal estrogen may help reduce recurrent UTIs in some peri- and postmenopausal women.⁴˒⁵

  • Cranberry can be considered as an option for preventing recurrent UTIs in some women. Evidence for D-mannose alone is less convincing, and current guidelines caution that it may not be effective on its own.⁴

  • Naturopathic care can support hydration, lifestyle, appropriate supplementation, menopause-related urinary health, and prevention planning. It should complement rather than replace medical treatment for an active UTI.

 

Related Care

UTIs can overlap with several areas of health. You may also benefit from:

Jennifer Tang
Next

Thyroid Disorders