The short explanation
During pregnancy, bacteria in the urine are often treated even when there are no symptoms. This is called asymptomatic bacteriuria. Pregnancy relaxes the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys and slows urine flow, so bacteria that would be harmless at other times are more likely to travel up and cause a kidney infection. A kidney infection in pregnancy can make you very unwell and is linked with early labour, so screening and treating bacteria in the urine is a standard part of antenatal care. Your doctor will choose a treatment that is considered suitable in pregnancy.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Doctors usually confirm the result with a urine culture, which shows which bacteria are present and which medicines work against them. A repeat test after treatment is often done to make sure the bacteria have cleared.
- If you have had urine infections before pregnancy, have diabetes, or have kidney problems, tell your obstetrician, because the follow-up plan may be closer. Do not stop or change any treatment without speaking to your doctor first.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This answer cannot interpret your specific report or say which treatment is right for you. Your obstetrician will decide that from the culture result and your history.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Was a urine culture done, and which bacteria were found?
- Is the treatment you are suggesting considered suitable at this stage of pregnancy?
- Will my urine be tested again after treatment?
- What symptoms should make me come in straight away?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Emergency — call 112 now
- Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have high fever with shivering, severe pain, heavy bleeding, fluid leaking, or you feel faint or very unwell.
Get help the same day
- Go to your maternity unit the same day if you develop fever, back or side pain, vomiting, regular tightenings, or burning with lower belly pain.
Book an appointment soon
- Contact your antenatal clinic within a few days if you have questions about the treatment or cannot get the repeat test done.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Keep your routine antenatal appointments and the repeat urine test your doctor advised.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Urinary tract infections MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Urinary tract infection — adults MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Kidney infection NHS
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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