UTI or STI? Getting the right urine test in London

It stings when you pee, you keep needing to go, and the urge arrives out of nowhere. Most people assume cystitis, and often they're right. But if there's a new partner in the picture, or something else feels different, you might be wondering whether it's something else.

Burning, frequency and a sudden, hard-to-ignore urge are the classic signs of a urine infection. Discharge, a new sore or lump, or itching around the genitals point more towards a sexually transmitted infection. The tricky part is that the two can look alike, and an examination with the right sample is what settles it.

If you'd rather skip the reading, a private GP consultation at our Harley Street clinic costs £150, runs seven days a week, and same-day appointments are often available. The GP examines you and decides which test you need.

What's the difference between a UTI and an STI?

A UTI is an infection of the bladder or urinary tract. It usually starts when bacteria that live harmlessly in the bowel find their way into the urethra. Typical symptoms are burning when you pee, needing to go often and urgently, and sometimes cloudy or strong-smelling urine, without discharge or genital sores.

An STI is passed on through sexual contact. It more often causes discharge, an unusual smell, a new sore, itching or pain during sex. Some STIs, including chlamydia, can also cause burning when you pee, which is how they get mistaken for a UTI.

That shared burning is the reason guessing doesn't work well. A doctor examines you and takes the right sample: a urine test for a suspected UTI, or a swab or urine test for the specific infections they suspect.

The usual pattern for each, though either can show up differently

Who is more likely to get a UTI?

Women get UTIs more often than men, largely because the distance between the bladder and the outside of the body is shorter. Pregnancy, sexual activity and previous UTIs all make another one more likely. When a man gets a UTI, it's worth having checked, because it's less usual and can occasionally point to another cause, such as an infection of the prostate.

When should I get a urine test?

Some mild UTIs in women settle within a few days without antibiotics. For everyone else, and for symptoms that hang around, a urine test confirms whether there's an infection and helps guide the right treatment.

• If you're a man with urinary symptoms, get a urine test, since a UTI is less common in men and deserves a proper look.
• If you're pregnant, have any urinary symptoms assessed promptly, because a urine infection in pregnancy needs prompt treatment.
• If your symptoms keep coming back, or are getting worse, a tested sample shows what's actually going on.
• If you have signs the infection may have reached a kidney, you need to be seen the same day (see below).

When do UTI symptoms need same-day care?

Fever, shivering, pain in your side or lower back (loin pain), or feeling sick or vomiting can mean the infection has spread to a kidney. That needs assessment the same day, as do any urinary symptoms in pregnancy. Blood in your urine should always be checked by a doctor.

If you can't get a same-day appointment, call NHS 111. If you're very unwell, confused, very drowsy or have signs of sepsis, call 999 or go to A&E.

Could it be an STI instead?

If you have discharge, a new sore, itching, or symptoms that began after a change of sexual partner, it's worth testing for an STI alongside a UTI. Individual STI tests cover specific infections, including chlamydia and gonorrhoea together for £104, with most results back in 1 to 3 days.

For men with discharge, a dedicated penile discharge assessment covers examination, testing and treatment. If you'd prefer a dedicated sexual health service, our sister clinic Sexual Health Clinic London has a guide to burning when you pee and how to tell a UTI from an STI.

What happens at a GP appointment for urinary symptoms?

You see a doctor in person at 117a Harley Street, with no referral and no fixed time limit on the consultation. The GP takes a history, examines you where needed and dipstick-tests a urine sample there and then. If the dipstick shows anything, the same sample can go to the laboratory for a urine culture or a full STI screen, so you won't need a second visit just to give a sample.

The consultation is £150, seven days a week, booked ahead or as a walk-in when there's capacity. Tests are charged on top, and the clinic explains any extra charge before it goes ahead.