Recurrence of Urinary Tract Infections

Most healthy women do not get repeat infections. However, women who have had three UTIs are likely to continue having them. Four out of five of these women get another UTI within 18 months of the last UTI. Many women have them even more often. If you have frequent infections (three or more a year), ask your health care provider about one of the following treatment options:

• Taking low doses of an antibiotic, such as TMP/SMZ or nitrofurantoin, daily for six months or longer. Research has shown this therapy to be effective without causing serious side effects.
• Taking a single dose of an antibiotic after sexual intercourse.
• Taking a short course (one or two days) of antibiotics when symptoms appear.