In short
- Infections are called recurrent from three episodes a year, or two in six months.
- In women, simple habits and preventive treatment often reduce recurrences.
- In men, any urinary infection calls for a search for its cause.
- Fever, flank pain or shivering: see a doctor the same day.
In this article
Why do infections keep coming back?
Several factors make recurrences more likely:
- In women, the short distance between the urethra and the anal area, which makes it easier for bacteria to pass
- Sexual intercourse, menopause, constipation or not drinking enough
- A bladder that does not empty well: enlarged prostate, prolapse, stone
- Diabetes or treatments that lower the body’s defences
What does the urologist do?
The urologist reviews your previous urine tests, looks for a contributing cause and may do an ultrasound to check that the bladder empties properly and the kidneys are normal. A cystoscopy is sometimes useful.
The aim is to treat the cause rather than go from one course of antibiotics to the next.
Habits that help
A few everyday habits reduce recurrences:
- Drink regularly throughout the day
- Do not hold on when you need to go, and pass urine after sex
- Treat constipation
- Avoid harsh intimate washes
Preventive treatment
Depending on the situation, the urologist may suggest local oestrogen treatment after menopause, supplements with a modest but real benefit for some women, or, in selected cases, a low-dose antibiotic for a limited period. These choices are made case by case.
What about men?
Urinary infections are less common in men and are never trivial: they can involve the prostate and reveal something blocking the flow of urine. They call for a urological check-up.
During pregnancy
A urinary infection during pregnancy, even without symptoms, must be treated, as it can reach the kidneys. Urine tests are part of routine pregnancy care.
After menopause
Falling hormone levels change the vaginal lining and flora, which makes infections more likely. Local treatment, as a cream or pessary, often greatly reduces recurrences. Discuss it with your doctor or gynaecologist.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need antibiotics every time?
A confirmed infection is treated with antibiotics, ideally guided by a urine culture. To prevent recurrences, the urologist focuses on correcting the cause.
Does cranberry juice work?
Its effect is modest and varies from person to person. It can be part of prevention but does not replace medical advice.
Is a urinary infection contagious?
No, it is not a sexually transmitted infection. Sex can, however, help bacteria reach the bladder.
Learn more
- CareUrinary tract infectionsA single bladder infection is easy to treat.
- CareProstatitisProstatitis is inflammation of the prostate, most often caused by an infection.
- CareUrological ultrasoundUltrasound uses sound waves to look at the kidneys, bladder, prostate and testicles.
- CareCystoscopyCystoscopy looks inside the urethra and bladder with a thin, flexible camera, under local anaesthetic.
More advice
Blood in the urine: why you should always get it checkedRed or pink urine, even once: possible causes, the tests to expect and why you should see a urologist without waiting.Read the article
Urologist or andrologist: what is the difference and who should you see?The difference between a urologist and an andrologist, which problems each one treats, and why Dr Ayhan Bakar in Brussels practises both.Read the article
Your first urology appointment: how to prepareWhat to bring, how it works, tests that may be done the same day: everything you need to prepare your first visit to a urologist in Brussels.Read the articleThis information is general and does not replace a consultation. In an emergency, call 112.
Article published by Dr Ayhan Bakar, urologist in Brussels (INAMI 17718534450).
Reference: European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines.