3 Ways to Ease the Pain of a Urinary Tract Infection

1. Wash the Pain Away

With a urinary tract infection (UTI), you not only suffer from a frequent need to urinate, but the urination is also accompanied by a painful burning sensation. Although it may seem counterintuitive to drink more fluids, requiring you to urinate even more frequently, it is far less painful to urinate with a full bladder than when you are only squeezing out a few drops. Water is always good to drink, and both cranberry juice and blueberry juice have been found to inhibit the growth of the bacteria that cause UTIs. It is recommended, however, that you avoid beverages containing alcohol, caffeine and citrus juices, as these can all be irritating to the bladder.

2. Soak in a Warm Bath

Relaxing in a tub of warm water for 15 to 20 minutes can also help to ease some of the pain you feel in your bladder. Make sure you're soaking in just plain water, though, as any type of soaps or bath oils can irritate the bladder lining. It is recommended that women who are prone to UTIs avoid bubble baths or any type of baths with soap. Shower when you need to get clean, but use the tub for warm, pain-relieving soaks. If you'd like to get the same sensation of topical warmth without getting all wet, you may also use a heating pad placed on your lower abdomen.

3. Treat the Infection With Medication

There is an over-the-counter medication that can be used to treat the pain caused by urinary tract infections. The medication is called AZO Standard and the active ingredient it contains is phenazopyridine hydrochloride. Although this medicine works pretty well to decrease the burning sensation upon urination, it does not decrease urinary frequency or cure the infection. It also has the unpleasant side effect of causing nausea in many women. If you choose to take this medication, you may wish to do so at night, just before going to bed. In order to get rid of the underlying cause of the infection, however, you are going to need to pay a visit to your gynecologist. A UTI is best treated with antibiotics. The most commonly prescribed include amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and trimethoprim.