Jump to content

  • Set Your Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
Set Your LocationSet Your Location
  • Find a Doctor
  • Find a Location
  • Donate Now
  • Patient Login
    • Sign In to My Health Online
    • Enroll in My Health Online
    • Learn About My Health Online
    • Open Choose a medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location
Sutter Health
  • BOOK APPOINTMENT
  • Book Appointment
  • Profile
Book Appointment
Walk-In Care

In-person care for minor illnesses.

Urgent Care

In-person care for moderate illnesses and injuries.

Video Visits

Virtual care with a Walk-In Care clinician.

Primary Care

Ongoing care and wellness for everyone.

COVID-19

Resources for vaccination and boosters.

Patient Login
  • Sign In to My Health Online
  • Enroll in My Health Online
  • Learn About My Health Online
  • Patients and Visitors

    Patients and Visitors

    Get personalized, coordinated care across Northern California through the Sutter network.

    View Patient Resources
    My Health Online

    Make appointments, message your doctor and more through our patient portal.

    Enroll Now
    • Find a DoctorFind a Doctor
    • Find a LocationFind a Location
    • View All ServicesView All Services
    • Request RecordsRequest Records
    • Pay a BillPay a Bill
    • Check SymptomsCheck Symptoms
    Patient Resources
    • Contact Us
    • Patient and Visitor Information
    • My Health Online Patient Portal
    • Classes and Events
    • Doctor Referrals
    • Health and Wellness
    • COVID-19 Vaccine Resources
    Billing and Insurance
    • Pay a Bill
    • Accepted Health Plans
    • Cost Estimates/Charges
    • Medicare Advantage
    • Sutter Health Plus
  • Treatments and Services

    Treatments and Services

    Access award-winning, comprehensive primary and specialty care for your whole family.

    View All Services
    Schedule a Visit

    Convenient care options for your everyday health needs.

    Book Appointment
    Get Care
    • Primary CarePrimary Care
    • Video VisitsVideo Visits
    • Walk-In CareWalk-In Care
    • Urgent CareUrgent Care
    • Emergency CareEmergency Care
    Featured Services
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy and Childbirth
    • Imaging
    • Pediatrics
    • Orthopedics
    • Cancer
    • Heart and Vascular
     
    • Dermatology
    • Physical Therapy
    • Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT)
    • Labs
    • Urology
    • Neuroscience
    • Women's Health (OB/GYN)
    • View All Services
  • Research and Education

    Research and Education

    Our contributions to medical research and education lead to better healthcare outcomes.

    Research at Sutter
    Graduate Medical Education

    Join our robust training programs led by nationally known healthcare leaders.

    Explore Opportunities
    Research
    • Clinical TrialsClinical Trials
    • Research StudiesResearch Studies
    • PublicationsPublications
    • InvestigatorsInvestigators
    Education
    • Residencies and Fellowships
    • Continuing Medical Education
  • About Sutter

    About Us

    Explore the ways we provide innovative, compassionate care through our network.

    Learn About Sutter Health
    Work at Sutter Health

    Shape the future of healthcare and build your career within our diverse teams.

    Find Jobs
    About Sutter Health
    • About Us
    • Diversity and Inclusion
    • Awards and Honors
    • Leadership
    • Annual Report
    • News and Media
    • Patient Stories
    • Business Programs
    Community
    • Giving
    • Volunteer With Us
    • Community Benefit
    Careers
    • Jobs at Sutter
    • Physician Opportunities
    • Residencies and Fellowships
  • BOOK APPOINTMENTBook Appointment
Logo
  • Patients and Visitors
  • Treatments and Services
  • Research and Education
  • About Sutter
Find a DoctorFind a DoctorFind a LocationFind a LocationContact UsContact UsDonate NowDonate Now
BOOK APPOINTMENT
  • My Health Online Patient LoginMy Health Online Patient Login
  • Set My LocationSet My Location
Logo
  • Find a DoctorFind a Doctor
  • Find a LocationFind a Location
  • View All ServicesView All Services
  • Request RecordsRequest Records
  • Pay a BillPay a Bill
  • Check SymptomsCheck Symptoms
Patient Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Patient and Visitor Information
  • My Health Online Patient Portal
  • Classes and Events
  • Doctor Referrals
  • Health and Wellness
  • COVID-19 Vaccine Resources
Billing and Insurance
  • Pay a Bill
  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Cost Estimates/Charges
  • Medicare Advantage
  • Sutter Health Plus

Patients and Visitors

Get personalized, coordinated care across Northern California through the Sutter network.

View Patient Resources
My Health Online

Make appointments, message your doctor and more through our patient portal.

Enroll Now
Patient
My Health Online

Make appointments, message your doctor and more through our patient portal.

Enroll Now
Logo
Get Care
  • Primary CarePrimary Care
  • Video VisitsVideo Visits
  • Walk-In CareWalk-In Care
  • Urgent CareUrgent Care
  • Emergency CareEmergency Care
Featured Services
  • Mental Health
  • Pregnancy and Childbirth
  • Imaging
  • Pediatrics
  • Orthopedics
  • Cancer
  • Heart and Vascular
  • Dermatology
  • Physical Therapy
  • Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT)
  • Labs
  • Urology
  • Neuroscience
  • Women's Health (OB/GYN)

Treatments and Services

Access award-winning, comprehensive primary and specialty care for your whole family.

View All Services
Schedule a Visit

Convenient care options for your everyday health needs.

Book Appointment
Logo
Research
  • Clinical TrialClinical Trials
  • Research StudiesResearch Studies
  • PublicationsPublications
  • InvestigatorsInvestigators
Education
  • Residencies and Fellowships
  • Continuing Medical Education

Research and Education

Our contributions to medical research and education lead to better healthcare outcomes.

Research at Sutter
Graduate Medical Education

Join our robust training programs led by nationally known healthcare leaders.

Explore Opportunities
Research
Graduate Medical Education

Join our robust training programs led by nationally known healthcare leaders.

Explore Opportunities
Logo
About Sutter Health
  • About Us
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Awards and Honors
  • Leadership
  • Annual Report
  • News and Media
  • Patient Stories
  • Business Programs
Community
  • Giving
  • Volunteer With Us
  • Community Benefit
Careers
  • Jobs at Sutter
  • Physician Opportunities
  • Residencies and Fellowships

About Us

Explore the ways we provide innovative, compassionate care through our network.

Learn About Sutter Health
Work at Sutter Health

Shape the future of healthcare and build your career within our diverse teams.

Find Jobs
Career
Work at Sutter Health

Shape the future of healthcare and build your career within our diverse teams.

Find Jobs
  • Home
  • Ask an Expert
  • Urinary Tract Infections
Content

Ask An Expert

Urinary Tract Infections

Ask the Expert Team

Ask the Expert Team

Sutter Health

Question:

I've heard urinary tract infections (UTIs) are getting harder to treat. Why is this and who's at risk of developing one?

Answer:

Urinary tract infections are one of the most common infections doctors treat. More than half of women living in the United States will get a UTI at some point in their lives.

Urinary tract infections are caused by microorganisms—usually bacteria—that enter the urethra and bladder, causing inflammation and infection. UTIs are more common in women because women have a shorter urethra than men do. That means bacteria travel a shorter distance to a woman's bladder.

Several types of antibiotics treat UTIs and, because of overuse, some have lost effectiveness in parts of the United States. In those regions, doctors see increased antibiotic resistance. The good news is that our general population in Northern California doesn't seem to show a lot of antibiotic resistance in treating UTIs.

A urine culture reveals the type of bacteria causing the infection, which helps determine the best treatment and antibiotics to use. Once treated, most patients feel relief of symptoms -- painful urination, burning sensation, sense of urgency to urinate -- in three to seven days.

Older adults who have a blockage in the urinary tract -- caused by kidney stones or an enlarged prostate -- are at higher risk of developing UTIs. Women completing menopause also are at risk for UTI if they had anatomical changes after child birth. People with diabetes and pregnant women need to be especially vigilant, since UTI complications can lead to serious health consequences, including premature delivery.

Take these steps to reduce your risk of developing a UTI:

• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Don't hold it! Urinating frequently helps flush out the bladder.
• Consult with your primary care provider, urologist or gynecologist if you have suffered two or more UTIs over a six month period.

Related Questions

Question
  • Fertility Treatments and Increased Cancer Risks?
    Is a woman undergoing fertility treatments at higher risk of getting cancer than a woman of the same age who has not taken these drugs?
  • Asthma and Menstrual Period
    My asthma seems to get worse during my menstrual period? Is this possible?
  • Frequent Male Urination
    My partner has begun to get up at night to urinate. He never did this before. He doesn't have symptoms of infection, like burning or pain. Should he be worried?
  • Menopause and Urinary Tract Infections
    Does menopause cause increased urinary tract infections? It seems like I'm getting more of them now that I'm older.
  • Pig Dermis Sling Rejection
    Regarding stress incontinence and using the pig skin mesh sling option - is it possible for a patient to reject the sling?

Back to Disease Prevention

The Sutter Health Network of Care
Expertise to fit your needs
Primary Care

Check-ups, screenings and sick visits for adults and children.

Specialty Care

Expertise and advanced technologies in all areas of medicine.

Emergency Care

For serious accidents, injuries and conditions that require immediate medical care.

Urgent Care

After-hours, weekend and holiday services.

Walk-In Care

Convenient walk-in care clinics for your non-urgent health needs.

  • Contact Us
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Book Appointment
  • Request Medical Records
  • Donate Now
Sign in to My Health Online

Billing and Insurance

  • Pay a Bill
  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Estimate Costs
  • Medicare Advantage

About Sutter

  • About Our Network
  • Community Benefit
  • Annual Report
  • News and Media

Our Team

  • For Employees
  • For Medical Professionals
  • For Vendors
  • For Volunteers

Careers

  • Jobs at Sutter
  • Physician Jobs
  • Graduate Medical Education

Copyright © 2023 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

  • ADA Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • LinkedIn Opens new window
  • YouTube Opens new window
  • Facebook Opens new window
  • Twitter Opens new window
  • Instagram Opens new window
  • Glassdoor Opens new window

Cookie Policy

We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences

Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences