How Long Does a UTI Last?

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common medical condition that affects millions of people every year. It’s common to wonder how long can a UTI go untreated and how long does a UTI take to go away with medications.

This article will review the duration of UTIs, which varies depending on the severity of the infection and the treatment applied. Still, remember that the specific timeline varies from person to person — so ask your doctor if you have any doubts.

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How Long Does a UTI Last?

Generally speaking, UTIs take between three days to six weeks to fully resolve. Most cases fall on the lower side of this range, usually not taking more than a week to fully mitigate the infection. However, certain medical conditions can delay this timeline. Similarly, complicated or recurrent UTIs don’t resolve as quickly as uncomplicated ones.

The exact timeline will depend on the specific treatment used and the properties of the infection. Below you’ll find the estimated timeline for the common treatment options — but remember that this will vary from person to person.

How Long Does a UTI Last With Antibiotics?

Antibiotic therapy is, by far, the quickest way to solve an uncomplicated UTI. Well-administered antibiotics can mitigate the infection in as little as three days. In addition, the symptoms usually disappear during the first three days.

A 2006 study shows that 60 out of 100 cases of UTIs clear up after a week of treatment with antibiotics. However, it is important to get the right antibiotic for the specific type of pathogenic bacteria causing the infection. A recent report shows that almost 50 percent of the time, the wrong antibiotics are prescribed to treat UTIs in women. Another difference lies in how long you need to take them. Most antibiotics are taken for three, five, or seven days.

How Long Does a UTI Last Without Antibiotics?

Some individuals may decide not to take antibiotics for a number of different reasons, such as wanting to avoid possible side effects. Luckily, this doesn’t change the expected timeline — as long as it’s a mild case of uncomplicated UTI.

Researchers found that 30 to 50 out of 100 women solved their UTIs without antibiotics in a week. Your doctor may advise you to take non-antibiotic medications and supplements such as probiotics, NSAIDs, cranberry products, D-mannose, and vitamins to help accelerate this process.

How Long Does a UTI Last Untreated?

Even if you choose not to do any treatment (neither medications nor supplements), most UTIs will resolve on their own in about a week. Yet, this is only the case for mild, uncomplicated infections.

More severe cases may lead to health complications if left untreated. These may include kidney infection, incontinence, persistent pain, and hypertension, among many others. As such, it’s always best to check with a doctor — even if you don’t want to take medication.