Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are extremely uncomfortable and unfortunately quite common. A whopping one-third of women will have a significant UTI before they turn 24, and half will have a UTI during their lives. After experiencing a few UTIs, many of us become experts at spotting the early warning signs of yet another UTI. Cue the list of UTI home remedies: cranberry juice, apple cider vinegar and garlic! No thanks. If it burns when you pee it's probably well past the time to safely clear a UTI without antibiotics. Now your focus should be on preventing the infection from spreading, which can land you in the emergency room.

But getting UTI medications that work quickly doesn't mean you have to make an appointment at the clinic just to get a prescription. Did you know that it is possible to skip the in-person doctor’s visit and get the appropriate fast-acting UTI antibiotics much faster and cheaper even without health insurance? Oh yeah. Keep reading to understand the most common UTI symptoms, how to get online UTI medication, and how to keep infections from coming back.

What is a UTI?

A UTI is simply an infection within your urinary tract (your urethra, kidneys, or bladder). They occur when outside bacteria enter your urinary tract through your urethra and up to 90 percent of UTIs are caused by E. coli bacteria. E. coli is always present in your digestive tract but can cause problems when it finds its way into your urinary tract! UTIs are often caused by sexual activity, but can also occur outside of sex. Wearing wet bathing suits, holding in your pee for too long, and even having a disrupted vaginal microbiome can all increase your risk of developing a UTI.

UTIs are incredibly common — it’s estimated that 50-60 percent of people with vaginas will experience a UTI at some point in their life. If you’ve had one of these painful infections, you probably received antibiotics from your doctor or local urgent care. Other options like UTI cleanses and daily supplements are great for UTI prevention, but once you have an infection the most trusted and reliable UTI medications are antibiotics.

UTI Symptoms

If you know, you know, UTI Symptoms are unmistakable:

• Abdominal pain
• Urgency to pee often
• Pain while peeing
• Cloudy or foul-smelling pee
• Pain during sex

More serious symptoms may include fever, chills, extreme fatigue, or vomiting, which may require a trip to see a healthcare provider in person for treatment and to rule out a more serious kidney infection.

Fortunately, prescription UTI medications work quickly to relieve these symptoms. If you catch your symptoms as soon as they start, there are a few reliable UTI home remedies that can treat UTI symptoms in the early stages and help prevent a full-blown infection. Options include cleanse drinks, daily supplements, and D-mannose capsules. More on these below!

UTI Treatment

UTIs are typically straightforward infections that can be easily treated with antibiotics. There are options for which type of antibiotic is best for each person and each infection, so it is important to consult with a healthcare professional. Never take antibiotics that were prescribed for someone else and always make sure to finish your prescription–even if your symptoms have improved.

The good news is that UTI medications are relatively inexpensive. It’s important to be treated early before the infection has an opportunity to spread. Untreated UTIs can become kidney infections that require more intense treatment and a possible stay in the hospital.

Of note: antibiotics are the best and most trusted treatment for UTIs, but they can come with side effects. Side effects often include diarrhea and yeast infections, which is why we recommend pairing UTI antibiotics with Equalizing Probiotics to keep your system balanced and happy.

Treating UTIs Without a Visit to Urgent Care

Cleanses and daily supplements work wonders for UTI prevention, but they cannot treat a full-blown infection. The most reliable way to get rid of a UTI fast is through prescription antibiotics. But how can you get UTI medications without visiting a doctor in person?

Online options like Wisp are available to help you quickly kick that pesky UTI. Wisp connects you to a licensed nurse practitioner or physician (the same kind of providers you would see at your local urgent care). The provider then prescribes the appropriate course of antibiotics and you can pick it up from your local pharmacy same day. You can access the medication through our website either with or without insurance. This way, you can get your UTI treated and get back to your day, no waiting room required.

Dangers of Untreated UTIs

It is important that UTIs are treated promptly and that you follow UTI medication instructions closely. Always complete your full course of antibiotics. An untreated UTI can lead to much more serious kidney and bladder infections that will require more extensive medical intervention. This is especially important if you’re pregnant, immunocompromised, or have diabetes or kidney problems. Not starting an antibiotic regimen within five days of getting a UTI significantly increases your chances of developing a kidney infection–so nip that infection in the bud!

Avoiding Future UTIs

Unfortunately, getting back-to-back UTIs is quite common. One study showed that 27 percent of women with a UTI had another infection within six months, and three percent had two more infections. That’s why we love products that help prevent UTIs in the first place–and keep them from coming back.

Although you can’t guarantee you won’t get another UTI that requires UTI medication, you can do a few things to help reduce the chances. Let’s look at the best practices for UTI prevention.

• Practice good hygiene: After going to the bathroom, make sure you always wipe from front to back to reduce the chances of bacteria entering your urethra. And, as always, pee after sex!
• Stay hydrated and consider a UTI cleanse: Drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water a day will help to reduce your chances of getting a UTI. Better yet, make one of those glasses a UTI cleanse drink with proven ingredients to keep infection-causing bacteria from sticking around.
• Wear cotton underwear: Cotton underwear is more breathable than other fabrics and will prevent bacteria from growing in or near your urethra.
• Support your microbiome: Probiotics and Boric Acid support a balanced and healthy vaginal microbiome, which helps to prevent recurring vaginal infections and UTIs. Plus, they’ll fight against antibiotic-related diarrhea and yeast infections that can crop up when your UTI is gone.
• Add UTI prevention supplements into your routine: Research has shown that D-Mannose can help flush UTI-causing bacteria from your system to help prevent infections.

Wisp offers easy and affordable access to UTI medications that include prescription UTI antibiotics for acute symptoms, and cleanses, daily supplements, and D-mannose for chronic UTI prevention. Our medical providers can quickly prescribe you the UTI medication that is best for your situation. Wisp can even forward an emergency dose to your local pharmacy so you can start feeling better as soon as possible. Start getting your hassle-free sexual healthcare today.