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What are the symptoms of a UTI in women?
UTI symptoms in women: how to tell if you have a UTI, how it differs from a yeast infection, and the signs of a kidney infection that need care.
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In short
What are the symptoms of a UTI in women?
The most common UTI symptoms in women are a burning or stinging feeling when you pee, needing to pee often or suddenly, peeing only small amounts, cloudy or bloody urine, and pain low in your belly. Fever, chills, nausea or pain in your back under the ribs can mean the infection has reached your kidneys, which needs medical care the same day.
Written by the Gyne team · Medical review: pending
Key takeaways
- Burning when you pee plus a sudden, frequent urge to go is the classic sign of a UTI.
- Back pain under the ribs, fever, chills or vomiting can mean a kidney infection.
- A yeast infection causes itching and discharge, while a UTI mainly affects how peeing feels.
- A simple urine test can confirm a UTI.
- If you're pregnant and think you have a UTI, call your doctor right away.
How can you tell if you have a UTI?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection anywhere in the system that makes and carries urine. Most start in the bladder, which is called cystitis. Symptoms often come on quickly and may include:
- Pain, burning or stinging when you pee.
- A strong urge to pee that can't wait.
- Needing to pee often, including at night, but only passing a little.
- Cloudy urine.
- Blood in your urine, which may look pink, red or brown.
- Pain or pressure low in your belly.
- Feeling tired, weak or generally unwell.
What are the signs a UTI has spread to your kidneys?
If bacteria travel up to the kidneys, the infection is more serious and needs prompt treatment. Watch for:
- Pain in your back or side, just under the ribs.
- A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
- Chills, shivering or feeling very hot and cold.
- Nausea or vomiting.
Is it a UTI or a yeast infection?
Both can make peeing sting, so they're easy to mix up. The main difference is where the problem is.
A UTI affects the bladder and urinary tract, so you mostly notice urgency, frequency and burning inside as you pee. A yeast infection affects the vagina and vulva, so you usually notice itching, soreness and thick white discharge, and the stinging is on the skin outside.
BV and some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can also cause burning when you pee. If you're not sure, a doctor can test for each.
Why do women get UTIs more often?
Women have a shorter urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body, and it sits close to the vagina and anus. That makes it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder.
You're also more likely to get a UTI if you've had one before, are pregnant, have diabetes or are going through menopause.
UTIs often come back. About 4 in 10 women who get a UTI will get another within 6 months.
How is a UTI diagnosed?
A doctor often diagnoses a UTI from your symptoms and a clean sample of your urine. A urine test, called a urinalysis, can show signs of infection, and a urine culture can show which bacteria are causing it.
If UTIs keep coming back, your doctor may suggest more tests to look for a cause.
How are UTIs treated?
UTIs caused by bacteria are usually treated with antibiotics prescribed by a doctor, and symptoms often ease within a couple of days. Your doctor will tell you how long to take them.
Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can ease the pain. Follow the label and check with a pharmacist if you have other conditions or take other medicines.
Can you prevent a UTI?
Some habits may lower your chances, though none is a guarantee:
- Drink enough fluids through the day. Water is best.
- Pee when you need to, and try not to hold it for more than 3 or 4 hours.
- Wipe from front to back after using the toilet.
- Pee before and after sex.
- Skip douches and feminine hygiene sprays.
When to see a doctor
- You think you have a UTI, especially if it's your first one.
- You're pregnant and have any UTI symptoms: call your doctor right away.
- You have back pain under the ribs, a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, chills or vomiting.
- You see blood in your urine.
- Your symptoms get worse, or don't improve within 2 days of starting treatment.
- You get UTIs often, such as 2 in 6 months or 3 in a year.
- You feel confused, very drowsy or faint: call 911 or your local emergency number.
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PeriodsThis guide is general information, not medical advice. Only a doctor can diagnose a condition.