Can Drinking Alcohol Cause a UTI?

Drinking alcohol does not directly cause a UTI as UTIs are caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract and multiplying. However, drinking alcohol can increase your risk of getting one and it can worsen the symptoms of an already existing UTI.

Drinking alcohol can increase your risk of getting a UTI because it can lead to dehydration and a weakened immune system. When you are dehydrated, your urinary tract throughput decreases, giving bacteria in the bladder and other tissues more time to multiply and cause disease. 

Additionally, certain types of alcoholic beverages may contain ingredients that can irritate the bladder leading to more severe UTI symptoms. Alcohol can also interact with certain medications prescribed for UTIs, making them less effective in treating the infection.

Overall it is recommended to avoid or limit alcohol consumption when you have a UTI.

Key takeaways:

  • Drinking alcohol does not directly cause a UTI,
  • Drinking alcohol can increase your risk of getting a UTI and worsen symptoms.
  • Alcohol can lead to dehydration and weaken your immune system.
  • Some alcoholic beverages can irritate the bladder.
  • Alcohol can also interact with medication prescribed for UTIs
  • It is best to avoid or limit alcohol consumption when you have a UTI.

Continue reading to learn more about UTIs, how alcohol can affect them, and what other drinks you should avoid with a UTI.

Table of Contents

What Is a UTI?

A UTI, or urinary tract infection, is a bacterial infection that can affect the bladder, kidneys, ureters (the tubes that run from the kidneys to the bladder), or the urethra (the tube from the bladder to the outside world). 

Most UTIs are caused by E. coli, a bacteria found in the colon which migrates from the anus into the urethra. However, other common UTI pathogens include Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Proteus mirabilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae

Doctors break down UTIs into different classes. You can have two or more at the same time. 

Cystitis refers to common bladder-based UTIs. With these, patients have a persistent urge to pee and may have cloudy urine. 

Urethritis affects the urethra. This type of infection can produce discharge and result in a burning sensation when you pee. 

Lastly, pyelonephritis affects the kidneys. Patients with this type of infection often experience back pain, fever, and chills. 

UTI Symptoms

In many cases, patients develop urinary tract infections without noticing that they have them (at least for the first few days or weeks). However, if symptoms do develop, they can include:

  • A persistent urge to urinate that doesn’t go away after urination
  • A burning sensation as urine leaves the bladder
  • Cloudy-looking urine
  • Urine that is a different color from normal or is pink, evidence of blood in the urine
  • Chills or fever
  • Pain and pressure in the lower abdomen
  • Strange-smelling pee
  • Passing only a small amount of pee during each trip to the bathroom

Can Drinking Alcohol Cause a UTI?

Drinking alcohol does not directly cause urinary tract infections (bacteria are required for that). However, it can raise your risk and make symptoms worse if you already have an active infection. 

Alcohol raises the risk of developing UTIs through several mechanisms. First, it can lead to dehydration, a leading cause of urinary tract infections. When you become dehydrated, urinary tract throughput decreases, giving bacteria in the bladder and other tissues more time to multiply and cause disease. 

Second, alcohol consumption may damage the immune system, making it harder for it to eliminate early-stage before it causes symptoms. For instance, clinicians have observed a close association between alcohol consumption and susceptibility to infection. 

Lastly, alcohol consumption may contribute to UTIs indirectly by increasing the likelihood of sexual activity. Studies show, for instance, that people who drink alcohol are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, leading to more UTIs.

Can You Drink Alcohol if You Have a UTI?

If you have a UTI, you should avoid drinking alcohol. Wine, beer, and spirits can worsen symptoms and cause serious side effects when combined with certain classes of antibiotics. Alcohol further irritates the bladder, compounding the effect of bacteria.

Drinking alcohol may also render treatment less effective, prolonging infection. Common antibiotics, such as trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole do not work as well in the presence of alcohol. Plus, you may experience unwanted side effects, such as racing heart, nausea, and flushing. 

Why Does Alcohol Make Your Bladder Hurt?

Alcohol may hurt your bladder even if you do not have a UTI. Pain occurs because alcohol causes the fluids you excrete to become more acidic. The extra acid load irritates the internal lining of the bladder, making you feel like you have a UTI, even if no bacteria are present.

What Other Drinks Should You Avoid With a UTI?

Doctors commonly advise people to avoid beverages such as coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks during UTI episodes. Getting people to stick to water, they believe, helps to flush out the system, reduce the bacterial load, and, hopefully, mitigate symptoms without the need for antibiotics. 

Recent evidence backs up this common-sense medicine. A study published in the Journal of Wound Ostomy & Continence Nursing found that patients with UTIs instructed to avoid tea, coffee, and soda saw an improvement in overall symptoms compared to those who carried on as normal. However, the researchers admitted that actually getting people to eliminate irritating drinks from their diets was difficult. 

When to See a Doctor?

Some UTIs clear up after a few days but most require antibiotics. Many are persistent and can if left untreated, cause serious kidney damage. 

If you are experiencing nausea, chills, fever, or vomiting, contact your physician immediately. You may require a course of antibiotics to eliminate the infection and prevent further damage to your urinary tract system.

Similarly, if you have had UTI symptoms for several days that won’t go away (such as a burning sensation when you pee), you require medical attention. Chronic UTIs can develop into serious infections that damage multiple organ systems. 

Get Help From an Online Doctor

To learn more about medication, treatment, and recovery, contact an online doctor. At DrHouse our online doctors are available 24/7 throughout the day, in the evenings, and on weekends, and can provide prompt UTI prescriptions. They can also make recovery recommendations, such as avoiding alcohol and other drinks, like coffee, that make symptoms worse. 

Key Takeaways

  • Alcohol does not cause UTIs because it does not directly transport bacteria into the urinary tract
  • However, it can increase the risk of UTIs developing by promoting dehydration, suppressing immune function, and increasing risky sexual activity
  • The main symptoms of UTIs are a burning sensation when peeing, discolored or cloudy urine, pink urine, an urgent need to pee all the time, fever, chills, and pee that smells strange
  • If you have a UTI, you should avoid alcohol, coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks as these can reduce urine pH, creating more irritation that makes symptoms worse
  • If your UTI doesn’t clear up after a couple of days or you have serious symptoms, like fever or vomiting, get urgent care immediately

Sources:

  • Miller JM, Garcia CE, Hortsch SB, Guo Y, Schimpf MO. Does Instruction to Eliminate Coffee, Tea, Alcohol, Carbonated, and Artificially Sweetened Beverages Improve Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms?: A Prospective Trial. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2016 Jan-Feb;43(1):69-79. doi: 10.1097/WON.0000000000000197.
  • Vincent CR, Thomas TL, Reyes L, White CL, Canales BK, Brown MB. Symptoms and risk factors associated with first urinary tract infection in college age women: a prospective cohort study. J Urol. 2013 Mar;189(3):904-10. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2012.09.087
  • Sarkar D, Jung MK, Wang HJ. Alcohol and the Immune System. Alcohol Res. 2015;37(2):153–5. PMCID: PMC4590612.
  • Flores-Mireles AL, Walker JN, Caparon M, Hultgren SJ. Urinary tract infections: epidemiology, mechanisms of infection and treatment options. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2015 May;13(5):269-84. doi: 10.1038/nrmicro3432.
  • Data on Excessive Drinking. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/data-stats.htm

Content on the DrHouse website is written by our medical content team and reviewed by qualified MDs, PhDs, NPs, and PharmDs. We follow strict content creation guidelines to ensure accurate medical information. However, this content is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For more information read our medical disclaimer.

Always consult with your physician or other qualified health providers about medical concerns. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it based on what you read on this website.

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