Condition
Recurrent urinary tract infection
Repeated urinary tract infections (commonly defined as 2+ in 6 months or 3+ in a year), usually in women, causing burning, urgency, and frequent urination.
See a clinician
Some causes of recurrent urinary tract infection need medical care, not self-treatment. Seek help for any of these:
- Fever, chills, or feeling systemically unwell with urinary symptoms — the infection may have reached the kidneys (pyelonephritis).
- Flank or lower-back pain below the ribs, nausea, or vomiting — possible kidney involvement.
- Visible blood in the urine.
- Any UTI symptoms in pregnancy — needs prompt treatment; do not self-treat with supplements.
- UTI symptoms in men, children, or anyone with a catheter, stones, or urinary-tract abnormality — get medically assessed.
What may help
Remedies studied for recurrent urinary tract infection, ranked by strength of evidence.
- B Cranberry supplement
Reduces the risk of recurrent symptomatic UTIs in women by about a quarter (RR 0.74); a 2023 Cochrane update is more favourable than the older review. For prevention, not treating an active infection.
- D D-mannose supplement
Despite a plausible mechanism and popularity, the largest double-blind trial to date (MERIT, 598 women) found no significant benefit over placebo and concluded it should not be recommended for prevention.
An active UTI needs proper assessment and usually antibiotics — the options here are about preventing recurrences, not treating an infection. Cranberry products have a modest preventive benefit in women with recurrent UTIs; D-mannose, despite its popularity, failed in the largest trial to date.