Condition
Urinary Tract Infections
UTIs are among the most common reasons for urology visits. We diagnose, treat, and investigate the underlying causes of recurrent infection.
Common symptoms
- Burning with urination
- Frequent need to urinate
- Cloudy or strong-smelling urine
- Pelvic pain
Urinary tract infections are among the most common reasons for both primary care and urology visits. Most are straightforward to treat — but recurrent UTIs deserve a urologist's evaluation to identify and address underlying causes.
When you should see a urologist
- Three or more UTIs in a year, or two in six months
- A UTI in a man (less common, deserves evaluation)
- A UTI accompanied by fever, flank pain, nausea, or vomiting
- Blood in the urine that persists after the infection is treated
- Recurrent infections despite appropriate antibiotic treatment
How we evaluate
For recurrent UTIs we typically order a urine culture, post-void residual measurement, imaging (ultrasound or CT), and in some cases cystoscopy. The goal is to identify any structural or functional contributor — incomplete emptying, kidney stones, anatomic abnormalities — that is making infections more likely.
Treatment and prevention
Acute infections are treated with the targeted antibiotic based on culture results. For prevention, we may use behavioral strategies (hydration, post-coital voiding), vaginal estrogen for postmenopausal women, methenamine, or a low-dose prophylactic antibiotic. We always look for ways to reduce antibiotic use over time.