Pharmacy First - Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

In this blog, we will cover:

• Symptoms of a UTI
• Treatment options
• Complications and potential risks?
• What are the causes?
• How Pharmacy First can help with this condition?

Symptoms of a UTI

Lower UTI infections in the bladder (cystitis) or urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) are more common. Symptoms include:

• A need to pee more often than usual 
• Pain or discomfort when peeing 
• Sudden urges to pee 
• Feeling as though you’re unable to empty your bladder fully 
• Pain low down in your abdomen
• Urine that’s cloudy, foul-smelling or contains blood 
• Feeling generally unwell, achy and tired



Whereas an upper UTI infection in the kidney or ureters (tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder) is less common, it can be far more serious. Symptoms include:

• A high temperature (fever)
• Pain in the sides or back
• Shivering and chills
• Feeling and being sick
• Confusion
• Agitation or restlessness

Treatment options

Through NHS Pharmacy First our pharmacist can provide advice and treatment for women (and men!) who are suffering from UTIs and any of six other conditions listed here:

Treatment can range from basic painkillers and creams to more specific treatment options such as antibiotics.  The treatment option indicated depends on the individual symptoms and status of the patient:

• Vaginal creams (for recurrent UTIs)
• Pain Killers (to treat symptoms)
• Antibiotics
• Health & Lifestyle advice

Please be aware that Pharmacy First does NOT cover providing treatment to women aged 65 years and above. In this circumstance, they must consult a GP, due to potential more complex health complications.

Those not in this age group can receive treatment directly from our pharmacist where appropriate.  This “one-stop-shop” approach can be a much more immediate and convenient option than accessing your GP, avoiding wait times and the need to travel to a pharmacy to have a prescription dispensed. Equally important is to free up our GP colleagues to help those most in need.

Complications & Risks

Like many seemingly minor conditions, UTIs are associated with a variety of different risks & complications. Complications can be severe resulting in the infection spreading to the kidneys or (in rare cases) into the bloodstream. (Sepsis). In those circumstances, you must seek medical attention by contacting your GP or calling 111.

Certain people, such as diabetics, are at increased risk of contracting a UTI. Diabetes can make a person more prone to frequent infections and more severe UTIs. In general women are far more likely to get a UTI than men.  Primarily this is simply due to the way men’s and women’s bodies are differently structured. There are other reasons women are more prone to suffer, such as contraceptive methods like the use of diaphragms.  Pregnancy can also increase a woman’s risk of a UTI due to the hormonal changes women experience plus the pressure exerted onto the urinal tract by the developing pregnancy.  Pregnant women tend to have higher blood glucose levels which also increases UTI susceptibility. Postmenopausal women also have an increased risk of UTI due to the lower oestrogen levels.  In addition, elderly men and women both have an increased risk of UTIs due to reduced bladder function as we age, and the other health conditions associated with aging. Sexually active people are also more susceptible. These are the just some examples of people with a greater UTI risk.

If you think you might have a UTI, then book an appointment to speak to our pharmacist under the NHS Pharmacy First service:

What causes UTIs?

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are an infection of the urinary tract. These usually result from bacteria, most commonly affecting the lower urinary tract around the urethra or bladder. This is a less serious and more common type of UTI, which could be caused by several conditions. Kidney stones can cause UTIs due to obstructing the urinary tract itself creating a higher chance of infection. UTIs are also more common for people with a weakened immune system like those going through chemotherapy. Certain contraceptive methods also increase the risk of UTI such as diaphragms and condoms coated in spermicide. Diabetes can also cause an increased risk of UTI partly due to high levels of blood sugar leading to high levels of sugar in urine which is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

Catheters can also cause UTIs. The risk from a catheter is small unless the catheter is left in place for a long period, which is when an infection is more likely to occur. Women have a predisposition to UTIs due to their urethra being shorter than a man’s and closer to their anus. Put simply, men and women are “plumbed” differently! As a result, the rate of UTI is much higher in women.  There is one risk factor that men should be aware of and that is an enlarged prostate which can also increase the risk.

How Can Pharmacy First Help?

The FREE, NHS Pharmacy First service is here to help you with uncomfortable UTIs. Letchworth Pharmacy patients can book an appointment to speak to our pharmacist by contacting one of the team or booking online. We can provide advice and medication from the convenience of our pharmacy (depending on which treatment is most appropriate). This will save you the headache of back-and-forth trips to and from the GP.

UTIs & the other six Pharmacy First conditions will become far easier for our patients to manage. This has been a long-awaited service provide by community pharmacies and now that it is finally here, we will ensure that we can provide our community with the services they deserve.

Learn more about Pharmacy First >

If you want to book your NHS Pharmacy First appointment, pop in and speak to one of the pharmacy team or click here: