What’s Missing From Your Recurrent UTI Care Plan?

What’s Missing From Your Recurrent UTI Care Plan?

When you have recurrent urinary tract infections, it can be hard to know if you’re doing the right things to manage symptoms and prevent future infections. Find out whether you may need special support, additional testing, or tweaks to your prevention and management plans.
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Published on May 11, 2026
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Managing recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) can feel a bit like a roller coaster. You experience relief when UTI symptoms are treated, but before you know it, they’re back again. If you’re getting at least two infections in a six-month period or three in a year, it’s important to look closely at your care and management plans to see what might need some tweaking.

“Generally, the signs that recurrent UTIs are well managed would be that you’re having fewer infections; there’s less anxiety about UTIs, because there’s a plan in place in case you get one; and you feel empowered, because you know there are tools available to prevent infections in general,” says Stephanie Gleicher, MD, a board-certified urologist and urogynecologist at Northwell Health in Garden City, New York.

With help from your care team, you can get off the UTI roller coaster. This assessment can help you get to the bottom of UTIs and be on your way to better management and prevention.

Question 1

What’s your biggest challenge in dealing with recurrent UTIs?

  • A. I think I’m taking antibiotics too often.
  • B. I keep having UTI symptoms, but my urine cultures are negative for bacteria.
  • C. I feel alone in handling them.
  • D. The UTI symptoms are severe and affect my quality of life.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Additional Sources
  • Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). Mayo Clinic. September 26, 2025.
  • Aggarwal N et al. Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections. StatPearls. January 20, 2025.
  • Mareș C et al. Update on Urinary Tract Infection Antibiotic Resistance—a Retrospective Study in Females in Conjunction With Clinical Data. Life (Basel). January 2024.
  • Ackerman AL et al. Updates to Recurrent Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections in Women: AUA/CUA/SUFU Guideline (2025). The Journal of Urology. January 2026.
  • Sabih A et al. Complicated Urinary Tract Infections. StatPearls. December 7, 2024.
  • Chess-Williams R et al. Chronic Psychological Stress and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms. Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms. October 2021.
  • Bono MJ et al. Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections. StatPearls. February 21, 2025.
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Allison Buttarazzi, MD

Allison Buttarazzi, MD

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Castle Connolly Top Doctor, Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Allison Buttarazzi, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and lifestyle medicine, and is a certified health and well-being coach. In her primary care practice, Dr. Buttarazzi...

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Elena Donovan Mauer

Elena Donovan Mauer

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Elena Donovan Mauer is a writer, editor, and content strategist specializing in health and wellness. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications, including Healthline, Paren...

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