Urinary tract infection (UTI) treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Absolutely, you can see one of our doctors online for your UTI in minutes. For women, UTIs are the most common medical condition treated by doctors on Maple. The typical treatment includes a UTI prescription for antibiotics such as Septra (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole).

Urine samples are only recommended if there’s a suspicion of a more serious kidney infection, or if you have been treated for a UTI within the past month.

If the doctor feels you have a more serious condition that requires an in-person examination, they’ll advise you to visit a clinic instead.

Roughly one in every two women experiences a urinary tract infection (UTI) in their lifetime. Although far more common in women, men aren’t free from getting UTIs either.

The urinary tract, composed of your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, may become infected by bacteria from the large intestine, such as E.coli, causing an infection to develop. Once your urethra becomes infected, the infection can then spread upwards to the bladder or kidneys.

There are two types of UTIs. The first type of UTI is a lower tract infection, which is very common. It occurs when the urethra (the tube that transports wastes from the bladder to be excreted) becomes infected with bacteria.

The second type of UTI, the upper tract infection, is less common and can be more serious since it occurs when the kidneys become infected with bacteria.

Many women who try to self-diagnose can mistake their UTI symptoms for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like chlamydia and gonorrhea, or pregnancy-related issues.

Yes, our physicians can give a UTI prescription online during your consultation as needed. Once you accept your UTI prescription, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy or we’ll deliver it right to your door at no additional cost.

You can visit our How it Works page to learn more.

The symptoms of a common infection include:

• Increased frequency of urination
• Increased urgency to urinate (like needing to run to the bathroom)
• Dysuria, burning with urination
• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
• Absence of fever or significant abdominal or back pain

The absence of fever, flank pain, or CVA tenderness help differentiate an acute uncomplicated UTI from a complicated one which could suggest a more widespread infection.

Pregnant women are more prone to UTIs due to changes in hormones allowing bacteria to travel up the urinary tract. Pregnancy (and STIs) should be ruled out when considering the list of symptoms above.

If a common UTI is left untreated, bacteria can move to the kidney and cause more severe infections.

The symptoms of a more complicated UTI include:

• UTI with blood or pus in the urine
• Fever, chills, or vomiting
• Diabetes or chronic illness
• Bad back pain
• A history of kidney infection or disease
• Painful urination during pregnancy

Treatment for UTIs can vary depending on which part of the urinary tract is infected, and how severe the infection is.

For common UTIs, the typical treatment involves a UTI prescription for a short course of antibiotics like Septra. Urine samples are only recommended if there’s a suspicion of a more serious kidney infection, or if you have recently been treated for a UTI within the past month.

If symptoms don’t improve within two to four weeks of treatment, you experience symptoms of a more complicated UTI and need UTI pain relief or all of the above, you should consider seeking urgent medical care at a clinic or hospital.

It’s not recommended that you have sex with a UTI. Doing so can worsen symptoms and cause the infection to last longer. And, while a UTI isn’t considered an STI, it’s still possible to pass bacteria on to a partner.

It’s best to wait until you’ve completed your prescription for UTI antibiotics so that the infection clears up before having sex again.

With UTI treatment antibiotics, the infection can be cleared up in as little as three to seven days. While some UTIs can clear up on their own, if left untreated, symptoms can get much worse. It’s best to speak with a doctor for UTI pain relief and a prescription, if necessary.

There are a few steps you can take to help prevent UTIs such as:

• Drinking plenty of water to help flush bacteria out of the urinary tract
• Urinating right after intercourse
• Taking showers rather than baths
• Wiping from front to back after using the bathroom

A yeast infection is an overgrowth of the Candida fungus which causes an odourless discharge that itches and burns around the vagina — especially while urinating.

A UTI is caused by a bacterial infection that makes its way up the urinary tract resulting in an increased frequency and urgency of urination, burning while urinating, and cloudy or foul-smelling urine.

If you’re concerned you may have a yeast infection, our doctors can help. They can also diagnose UTIs and treat them by providing a UTI prescription online in Canada, as needed.

While a male’s longer urethra makes it more difficult for bacteria to travel up the urinary tract and cause an infection, it’s still possible to get one. Common causes include:

• Diabetes
• Unprotected anal sex
• Being immunocompromised
• Kidney stones
• An enlarged prostate

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