Contact a clinician for UTI symptoms because urinary infections need prescription antibiotics, and contact one for yeast symptoms if this is your first episode, symptoms keep coming back, or over-the-counter antifungal treatment has not worked.
The two conditions feel different in a way that helps you sort them. A UTI usually causes burning during urination, a strong urge to go, small frequent amounts, lower belly pressure, and urine that looks cloudy or has a strong smell. A yeast infection usually causes itching and soreness outside the vagina, redness, pain with sex, and thick white discharge, without much burning inside the urethra. Fever, chills, back or flank pain, vomiting, or blood in the urine point toward a kidney infection and need same-day care. Being pregnant, having diabetes, having a weakened immune system, or having a urinary catheter means you should be evaluated rather than treating yourself.
When to see a doctor
Common questions
When should you see a doctor for uti vs yeast?
See a doctor for a suspected UTI whenever you have burning with urination, urgency, frequent small voids, or cloudy urine, because UTIs are diagnosed with a urine test and treated with prescription antibiotics. Seek care the same day if you have fever, chills, back or flank pain, vomiting, or you are pregnant, since those suggest a kidney infection. For a yeast infection, external itching with thick white discharge often responds to over-the-counter antifungal cream or a prescription pill. Call a clinician if it is your first episode, symptoms return within two months, you are pregnant, or symptoms persist after a full course of treatment.