Urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms are far from fun – there’s the burning sensation when you pee, the need to pee more often and then when you do, only a tiny amount comes out. This can be uncomfortable and frankly, exhausting.
Urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms are far from fun – there’s the burning sensation when you pee, the need to pee more often and then when you do, only a tiny amount comes out. This can be uncomfortable and frankly, exhausting.
For some women these symptoms never let up, instead they're a constant unwelcome presence. So could it be a chronic – or long-term – UTI?
First thing’s first – chronic UTI is different from recurrent UTIs (RUTI). "Recurrent UTIs in women are a well-known condition where you get 2 or more UTIs in 6 months, or 3 or more UTIs in a year. What’s less well understood is when the infection never goes away completely, or when a UTI comes right back after antibiotics, but is hard to pick up on tests. The theory behind chronic UTI is starting to get more attention and it might help explain the symptoms that some women experience," says doctor and Healthily expert, Dr Adiele Hoffman.
"We don't yet have ideal diagnosis processes or treatments for chronic UTI because it’s not yet fully understood. But the good news is that more research is being carried out and world-renowned organizations are starting to acknowledge it. For example, the NHS in the UK recognised chronic UTIs in 2022 as a separate condition to UTIs."
Read on to find out what we know about chronic UTI so far, what women say it feels like and where to get support and treatments that are available.
The theory around chronic UTI causes is that it happens when bacteria from a UTI are not completely cleared. This could be for many reasons and experts aren’t exactly sure why. One theory is that some bacteria stays in your pee and moves from there into the cells of your bladder wall. Here, they’re sheltered from antibiotics and they become harder to kill. Your body’s response is inflammation, which is what leads to those persistent symptoms.
This is different from RUTI which is when your UTI comes back after being cleared.
If you’re prescribed antibiotics to clear your UTI (read more about treatment for UTIs) but you find that antibiotics don’t work, or that urine tests don’t pick up a UTI even though you have symptoms, you might have a chronic UTI.
It’s thought that the short courses of antibiotics that are usually given to treat UTIs aren’t effective against chronic UTIs. Here are some possible theories on why:
There are several reasons why your UTI could escape detection on urine tests that are used to diagnose UTIs:
The symptoms are usually the same as any UTI but with chronic UTI, they come back quickly after treatment or they don’t go away completely. Symptoms can vary from person to person. To find out about the symptoms of a UTI, read our article "Urinary tract infections (UTI) in women – how to treat them."
Chronic UTI can be debilitating. It can affect your quality of life, leaving you feeling drained and isolated. Some women have described being in so much pain that they’re unable to do anything – leave the house, work, sleep. For others, the constant discomfort leaves them unable to have sex. "Your social, family, work and love lives can all take a hit under the strain of chronic urinary symptoms," says Dr Adiele. "These symptoms can be tricky to get to the bottom of and can mean you may need to take time off work or feel too unwell to go out. As well as having your symptoms properly investigated, it can help to talk to other women who are in a similar situation."
See below for where to find support for chronic UTI.
You should make an appointment with your doctor if you have:
Use our free Smart Symptom Checker to help you work out your next steps.
Get a same-day doctor’s appointment or urgent care if you have:
If you’re dealing with the frustration and anxiety of chronic UTI, here are some tips for smooth communication with your doctor to help you get a diagnosis and the right treatment:
Depending on what specialist center you visit, you may have:
Chronic UTI treatment has not been fully studied in research so at the moment, we don’t have scientific proof of exactly what works, any licensed treatments or any national guidelines on the condition. Your specialist may recommend treatment based on their experience and what experts know so far, for example, a combination of:
Alongside the treatments mentioned above, natural remedies that are sometimes used for preventing regular UTIs, include:
Our health stories are designed to give women's voices more space and time to really share their experiences and tips with you. If you don't have time to watch the whole of Danni's video right now, you can:
When you have ongoing symptoms that impact your life, it can leave you feeling confused, frustrated and like no one understands what you’re going through. So it’s useful to know where you can turn to for support. You might find it helpful to discuss your symptoms with friends and family you trust, or there are support groups out there. You could try:
Important: Our website provides useful information but is not a substitute for medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your doctor when making decisions about your health.