Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)

PROMPT CARE, PROPER TREATMENT

A urinary tract infection can make every hour uncomfortable, and getting the right treatment promptly matters. Fill out a confidential online form and a UK-registered prescriber will review it. If appropriate, treatment is dispensed by our GPhC-registered pharmacy and delivered discreetly to your door.

Start now Takes a few minutes and is reviewed by a UK prescriber. Treatment is supplied only if approved.
  • Fill out a short form
  • Reviewed by a prescriber
  • Delivered if approved
  • GPhC-registered pharmacy
  • Confidential plain packaging
Woman at home completing a confidential online UTI consultation on her phone

The condition

Understanding urinary tract infections

A urinary tract infection happens when bacteria get into the bladder or urethra, causing burning when you pass urine, needing to go urgently and often, and a dragging ache low in the tummy. UTIs are very common in women because of simple anatomy, and most are uncomplicated bladder infections, sometimes called cystitis.

Mild infections sometimes settle with fluids, rest and pain relief, but many need a short course of treatment to clear properly. The key is matching the treatment to the situation, and knowing when an infection needs a doctor rather than an online service. A clinical review makes that call safely.

Know the signs

Symptoms and when to seek help

Typical signs of a bladder infection include the following. If they sound familiar, a consultation can confirm the right next step.

  • Burning or stinging when you pass urine
  • Needing to urinate urgently, often, or during the night
  • Cloudy or strong-smelling urine
  • An ache or pressure low in your tummy

When to see a doctor

Some symptoms mean an infection needs a doctor rather than an online service. Contact your GP urgently or call NHS 111 if any of the following apply.

  • Fever, shivering or shaking chills
  • Pain in your back or side, just below the ribs
  • Feeling or being sick alongside urinary symptoms
  • Blood in your urine
  • You are pregnant, male, have a catheter, or symptoms have lasted more than 7 days

Call 999 if you become confused, drowsy, breathless, or develop mottled or very pale skin, as these can be signs of sepsis, which is a medical emergency. If symptoms worsen while you wait for treatment, do not wait it out, call NHS 111.

Our clinic model

How it works at Medicosmetic

Fill out a short medical form

Answer a confidential set of health questions online. It takes a few minutes and can be done in private, at any time. We carry out identity checks to keep the service safe.

Reviewed by a UK-registered prescriber

A prescriber reviews your symptoms and health history, and approves treatment only if an uncomplicated infection is likely and treatment is clinically appropriate. If your symptoms suggest anything more, they will direct you to the right care instead.

Delivered discreetly if approved

Once approved, your treatment is checked and dispensed by our pharmacist at Erdington Community Pharmacy, then posted in plain, unbranded packaging with tracking.

If your symptoms worsen at any point while waiting for delivery, contact NHS 111 rather than waiting it out. We encourage you to let your GP know about any treatment you receive, and you are not charged for medicine that is not supplied.

Start your form

Evidence-based options

Treatment approaches

The standard treatment for an uncomplicated bladder infection is a short course of antibiotics, usually lasting three days, in line with NHS guidance. Symptoms often begin to ease within a day or two of starting, and it is important to complete the full course even once you feel better, so the infection clears fully and resistance is kept in check. Antibiotics are only supplied where a prescriber judges them clinically appropriate, because using them when they are not needed helps bacteria become resistant.

Alongside treatment, drinking plenty of fluids, resting, and simple pain relief such as paracetamol all help you feel better while the infection clears. Over-the-counter cystitis relief sachets can ease symptoms for some women, subject to pharmacist approval. If you get infections repeatedly, tell your prescriber or GP, because recurrent UTIs deserve a proper review rather than repeated one-off treatment.

Compare your options

Treatment options and pricing

Treatment depends on your situation, and the options below show what the service covers. The comparison is factual information only. Your prescriber approves treatment only if it is clinically appropriate for you, and will direct you elsewhere if your symptoms need it.

Prescription treatment course

Prescription treatment course

From £XX including consultation and delivery

  • How it's takenA short course, usually 3 days
  • Starts workingSymptoms often ease within 48 hours
  • LastsComplete the full course even if you feel better

Prescription only, supplied where a prescriber confirms an uncomplicated infection is likely.

Check my suitability
Over-the-counter symptom relief

Over-the-counter symptom relief

From £X including delivery

  • How it's takenSachets dissolved in water, plus simple pain relief
  • Starts workingCan ease discomfort while the infection clears
  • LastsUse alongside fluids and rest

No prescription needed, subject to pharmacist approval. Relief for symptoms, not a cure for the infection.

Check my suitability

Prices shown include the consultation, prescription, dispensing and delivery. Treatment is supplied only if approved by a UK-registered prescriber following your online form. Supply is never guaranteed, and you are not charged for medicine that is not supplied. Information above is factual and does not replace clinical advice.

Trusted care

Why Medicosmetic

GPhC-registered pharmacy

Medicosmetic is a trading name of Erdington Community Pharmacy (Premises No. 1107990). Verify on the GPhC register.

Named Superintendent Pharmacist

Mohammad Luqman Ghani (GPhC 2220694) oversees our pharmacy services.

UK-registered prescribers

Every form is reviewed by a clinician registered to prescribe in the UK.

Genuine UK-sourced medicines

Dispensed by our own pharmacy, never third-party marketplaces.

Discreet by design

Plain packaging, tracked delivery, and confidential handling of your information.

Straightforward next steps

If treatment is not suitable, we explain why and signpost you to the right care, usually your GP.

Common questions

UTI FAQs

What causes a UTI?
Most UTIs happen when bacteria that normally live around the bowel get into the urethra and bladder. Women get them more often because the urethra is shorter and closer to the bowel. Sex, dehydration, holding urine in for long periods and the menopause can all raise the risk. Most are uncomplicated and clear quickly with the right treatment.
How do I know it's a UTI and not thrush or an STI?
UTIs typically cause burning when you urinate, urgency and lower tummy ache. Thrush tends to cause itching and a thick white discharge, while some STIs cause unusual discharge or bleeding between periods. There is overlap, so describe your symptoms fully in your form. If an STI is possible, testing is the right first step and we will say so.
Can I get UTI treatment online in the UK?
Yes, through a registered online pharmacy service with prescriber review. At Medicosmetic you complete a confidential form, a UK-registered prescriber reviews your symptoms, and treatment is supplied only where an uncomplicated infection is likely and treatment is clinically appropriate. Always check a pharmacy's GPhC registration before using any online service.
Do UTIs go away on their own?
Mild bladder infections sometimes settle within a few days with plenty of fluids, rest and simple pain relief. Many do not, and an untreated infection can travel up to the kidneys. If your symptoms are getting worse, have lasted more than a couple of days, or you feel feverish or unwell, seek treatment rather than waiting it out.
Why do I keep getting UTIs?
Recurrent UTIs, usually defined as three or more in a year, deserve a proper clinical review rather than repeated one-off treatment. Causes range from hydration and hygiene factors to hormonal changes after the menopause, and sometimes an underlying issue needs checking. Tell your prescriber or GP about the pattern, because prevention options exist.
Can men use this service for a UTI?
UTIs in men are treated differently, because they are more likely to involve an underlying cause that needs proper investigation. For that reason our online UTI service is for women, and men with urinary symptoms should see their GP. It is not a formality, it is what safe care looks like for male UTIs.
How quickly will treatment work?
Most women start to feel better within a day or two of starting treatment, and the standard course lasts three days. Finish the full course even if you feel well, so the infection clears completely. If you are not improving after 48 hours of treatment, or you feel worse at any point, contact us, your GP or NHS 111.

Ready to start? It begins with a short form

Fill out a confidential medical form, choose your preferred treatment and, if approved by our prescriber, have it dispensed by our pharmacist and delivered discreetly to your door.

Start now