Can You Go to Urgent Care for a UTI? What to Expect

Urinary tract infections (UTI), sometimes called bladder infections, are never pleasant. Telltale symptoms like frequent urges to go to the bathroom, abdominal pain, and pain while urinating lead to discomfort that can make it hard to concentrate on school or work. The best treatment for UTI is usually a course of antibiotics, which requires a prescription.

You may wonder, “Can I go to urgent care for a UTI?” The answer is yes. Urgent care is a quick, convenient way to get UTI treatment. You can come in at your convenience for a quick-turnaround urine test to confirm that you have a UTI. Urgent care providers can send your prescription to the pharmacy of your choice so you can start feeling better as quickly as possible.

What Is a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?

The urinary tract includes the kidneys, the ureters, which connect the kidneys to the bladder, the bladder, and the urethra, which carries urine out of the body. Since most of the urinary tract is inside the body, it’s generally protected from exposure to bacteria. Occasionally, bacteria can make their way into the urinary tract and cause an infection.

UTIs typically happen when bacteria get into the opening to the urethra, which is located on the tip of the penis or just above the vagina. This can happen due to improper wiping after defecation, exposure to bacteria on the skin during sexual contact, or if you use a urinary catheter. UTIs can also arise from incomplete emptying of the bladder or blockages in the urinary tract, such as kidney stones. UTIs are most common in women and older adults.

Recognizing the Signs: Common UTI Symptoms

UTIs can lead to characteristic symptoms, such as feeling like your bladder is always full and mild to moderate discomfort. Common symptoms of UTIs include:

• Dysuria: Pain or a burning sensation while passing urine that may also linger after urinating
• Urgency: Feeling like you have to urinate, even if you urinated very recently
• Passing only small amounts of urine: Very little urine comes out when you try to go to the bathroom, despite a strong urge to urinate and pressure in the bladder
• Discolored urine: Urine may look dark or cloudy and may have a strong or unusual aroma
• Blood in urine: Traces of blood in urine, making it look pink or red
• Discomfort: Pain or pressure in the lower abdomen or pelvic area

UTI symptoms often worsen if you don’t treat them right away, so getting prompt care is important. A swift diagnosis and treatment will alleviate symptoms and prevent the infection from getting worse.

How Urgent Care Can Treat Your UTI

You can visit urgent care for a UTI to get a quick diagnosis and treatment. The process is simple and non-invasive. Urgent care centers can do the testing on site, so you won’t need to go to multiple offices and labs for care. Once you have a diagnosis, your provider can prescribe treatment, so you can start feeling better as soon as possible.

1. Consultation: Your healthcare provider will talk to you about your symptoms and make sure they are consistent with a UTI. That way, they can rule out any other causes, such as a yeast infection, that may require different treatment.
2. Urine Sample (Urinalysis): The standard test for a UTI is a urinalysis. This involves getting a “clean catch” urine sample. The process involves using a sterile wipe to clear the urinary area, then urinating into a cup. Your provider can test the urine sample for the presence of bacteria and the white blood cells that the body sends to fight infection.
3. Diagnosis: A rapid urine test should only take a few minutes. Once the test confirms a UTI, our provider can prescribe an antibiotic and other medication to help alleviate discomfort.  Your provider will give you detailed instructions about taking your medications. You’ll have an opportunity to ask questions and make sure you understand the treatment plan.
4. Treatment: Your provider will submit any prescription directly to your preferred pharmacy so you can pick it up the same day. You can’t get antibiotics without a prescription, so visiting urgent care is one of the best options for getting the care you need at the time you need it.

When To Choose Urgent Care vs the ER for UTIs

UTIs can be serious, so it’s important to know when to choose urgent care versus ER care.

An emergency room is the right place to go if your life or health is at risk. UTIs are typically not emergencies, although they do require prompt care. Visiting an urgent care allows you to get same-day care without the high copay and long wait that you would face at an ER. Many insurance plans consider urgent care visits in the same category as office visits to your primary care provider.

Urgent care is the smart choice for uncomplicated UTIs in otherwise healthy people. If you have mild to moderate symptoms, you can visit an urgent care center for quick care, but you don’t need to head to the ER.

In rare cases, untreated UTIs lead to severe, life-threatening infections in the kidneys. You should seek emergency care if you have symptoms of a severe UTI, including:

• High fever or chills
• Nausea and vomiting
• Severe pain in the back or sides
• Confusion or extreme fatigue

Don’t Wait for Relief. Visit Next Level Urgent Care Today

If you suspect you have a UTI, you can get same-day care and same-day relief at Next Level Urgent Care. Our experienced healthcare providers can diagnose a UTI quickly and get you the medications you need to start feeling better fast.

Walk into any of our convenient locations, between 9 AM and 9 PM, 7 days a week. Or you can check in online using our mobile app.