Burning or stinging
A sharp burning sensation while urinating is the classic UTI symptom, caused by inflammation in the urethra and bladder lining.
Urgent Care Service
UTI Treatment
Burning, urgency or bladder pressure? Walk in for same-day UTI testing and treatment. Our providers can perform an on-site urinalysis and send an appropriate prescription to your pharmacy when treatment is needed.
What Is a UTI?
A urinary tract infection is common — and very treatable when caught early
A urinary tract infection (UTI) happens when bacteria enter the urinary system and multiply. Most infections start in the bladder or urethra, where they cause the familiar burning and urgency. Left untreated, that same infection can travel upward to the kidneys, where it becomes far more serious.
UTIs are one of the most frequent reasons adults visit urgent care. The good news is that a simple urine test usually gives your provider enough information to start treatment the same day, so you can be on the mend within 24 to 48 hours instead of waiting a week for an appointment.
Our clinics in San Jose, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale see UTI patients every day — students, working professionals, older adults and people with recurring infections who simply want relief fast.
What's included in a UTI visit
- Symptom review and focused exam
- On-site urinalysis (dipstick + microscopic)
- Urine culture when results are unclear or infections keep coming back
- Antibiotic prescription when appropriate
- Guidance on symptom relief and hydration
- Referral to a urologist for recurring cases
Symptoms
Signs you may have a urinary tract infection
You don't need every symptom on this list. Even one or two that don't settle within a day are worth getting checked.
Constant urgency
Feeling like you need to go every few minutes, then passing only a small amount — or nothing at all — when you get there.
Cloudy or strong-smelling urine
Urine that looks cloudy, dark, or pink-tinged, or that has an unusually strong odor, can point to bacteria and blood in the urinary tract.
Pelvic pressure or cramping
A heavy, aching pressure just above the pubic bone that doesn't ease after you urinate is common with bladder infections.
Low-grade fever or chills
A mild fever suggests your body is fighting the infection. A high fever with chills is a warning sign the infection may have spread.
Confusion in older adults
In seniors, a UTI may show up as sudden confusion, agitation, or unsteadiness rather than the usual burning and urgency.
Your Visit
How UTI treatment works at our clinics
Most UTI visits are finished in well under an hour, start to finish.
1
Walk in or book online
No appointment is required. If you'd rather hold a time slot, book online and arrive when it suits you.
2
Give a urine sample
A quick clean-catch sample is all that's needed. Try to arrive without having emptied your bladder just beforehand.
3
On-site results
Our lab runs the urinalysis in the building. Results are usually ready in about 15 minutes while you wait.
4
Treatment plan
If antibiotics are appropriate, your provider sends the prescription to your pharmacy before you leave.
If your urinalysis is unclear or your infections keep returning, we may also send a urine culture to the lab. Culture results typically take one to three days, and we'll contact you if your treatment needs to be adjusted.
Types of UTI
Where the infection sits matters
The same bacteria cause very different levels of illness depending on how far up the urinary tract they travel.
- Urethritis — infection of the urethra. Usually causes burning with urination and discharge.
- Cystitis (bladder infection) — the most common type. Urgency, frequency, pelvic pressure and cloudy urine.
- Pyelonephritis (kidney infection) — the infection has reached one or both kidneys. Fever, chills, back or flank pain and nausea. This needs prompt medical attention.
- Recurrent UTI — two or more infections in six months, or three or more in a year. Worth investigating the underlying cause.
Seek Emergency Care
When a UTI is no longer an urgent care visit
Go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 if you have any of the following:
- High fever with shaking chills
- Pain in your back, side or flank
- Nausea or vomiting that stops you keeping fluids down
- Confusion, extreme drowsiness or feeling faint
- Visible blood in the urine with severe pain
- You are pregnant and have UTI symptoms with fever
These can indicate a kidney infection or a bloodstream infection, both of which need a higher level of care than an urgent care clinic can provide.
Risk Factors
Who gets urinary tract infections most often
UTIs are far more common in women because the urethra is shorter, giving bacteria a shorter path to the bladder. But anyone can get one, and certain situations raise the odds:
- Being sexually active, or a recent change in partner
- Pregnancy and hormonal changes around menopause
- Diabetes and other conditions that affect immunity
- Holding urine for long stretches or low fluid intake
- Kidney stones or an enlarged prostate blocking flow
- Catheter use or recent urinary procedures
- Certain birth control methods such as diaphragms and spermicides
- A previous history of urinary tract infections
If you live with a long-term condition such as diabetes that makes infections more likely, our chronic care team can help you manage the underlying picture rather than just treating each infection as it arrives.
Get Seen Today
Walk in for UTI treatment at any location
San Jose · Santa Clara · Sunnyvale
Instant Urgent Care – San Jose
5138 Monterey Hwy, Ste G, San Jose, CA 95111
Mon–Fri: 9 AM – 6 PM
(408) 687-4806 Instant Urgent Care – Santa Clara
3466 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95051
Mon/Wed/Fri: 9 AM – 7 PM · Tue/Thu: 9 AM – 6 PM · Sat–Sun: 9 AM – 5 PM
(408) 791-1210 Instant Urgent Care – Sunnyvale
970 W El Camino Real, Ste 8, Sunnyvale, CA 94087
Mon–Fri: 9 AM – 6 PM · Sat–Sun: 9 AM – 5 PM
(408) 212-7420 Not sure whether you need to come in?
Call us and our team will help you decide between a clinic visit and a telemedicine appointment.
Related Care
Other services patients often need
👂 Ear Infection Urgent Care
Ear pain, pressure or drainage in adults and children — same-day exam and treatment.
Learn more →🚑 Urgent Care
Illness, minor injuries, infections and everything else that can't wait for an appointment.
Learn more →💻 Telemedicine
See a California-licensed provider by video from home — often enough for a simple UTI.
Learn more →🩺 Primary Care
Ongoing care, physicals and follow-up if your infections keep coming back.
Learn more →🧬 Chronic Care
Diabetes and other long-term conditions that raise your risk of recurring infections.
Learn more →💳 Insurance & Payment
Check which plans we accept and what a self-pay visit costs before you arrive.
Learn more →FAQ
UTI treatment: frequently asked questions
Yes. Urgent care is one of the most common places people get treated for a urinary tract infection. Our providers review your symptoms, run an on-site urinalysis, and send an appropriate prescription to your pharmacy the same day if treatment is needed — no referral or prior appointment required.
A standard urinalysis is done on site and results are usually available in about 15 minutes. If a urine culture is needed to confirm the exact bacteria or check which antibiotics will work best, those results typically take one to three days. We contact you if your treatment needs to change.
Some very mild bladder infections do resolve on their own, but many do not. An untreated UTI can travel up to the kidneys and become a far more serious infection. Getting tested is safer than waiting it out, and your provider will advise on the right approach for your specific situation.
Go to an emergency room or call 911 if you have a high fever with shaking chills, pain in your back or side, persistent vomiting, confusion, or if you feel faint. These can be signs the infection has reached the kidneys or bloodstream and needs emergency-level care.
Often yes, especially for a straightforward first-time bladder infection in an otherwise healthy adult. Our telemedicine providers see patients anywhere in California. If your provider decides a urine test is necessary, they'll ask you to visit one of our clinics.
Most people notice a clear improvement within 24 to 48 hours of starting antibiotics. Finish the full course even once you feel well, since stopping early can allow the infection to return. If you're not improving after two or three days, come back and see us.
No. Walk-ins are welcome at all three Instant Urgent Care clinics. You can also book a time slot online if you'd prefer a shorter wait.
Yes. UTIs in young children can present as fever, irritability, bedwetting or belly pain rather than burning. Our pediatric care team can evaluate and treat children, and will refer to a specialist if further workup is needed.
Get Care Today
Don't wait out a UTI.
We're open right now.
Walk in to any location for same-day testing and treatment, or book a telemedicine visit from anywhere in California.
(408) 687-4806Call during clinic hours
Medical disclaimer: This page is general health information and is not a substitute for a diagnosis or treatment plan from a licensed clinician. Symptoms vary from person to person, and only an in-person evaluation can confirm whether you have a urinary tract infection. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.