Is there any actual evidence that shows cranberry juice is helpful in fighting off a UTI?

As far as I know it can help prevent them, I guess it makes your bladder lining slippery, but if you have an infection you need antibiotics.

As I mentioned, I’ve fought many UTIs off without antibiotics, just by drinking mass quantities of some liquid, whether it’s water or cranberry juice.
I just wonder if what you said is true, that it can help prevent them?

Long read. But lots of relevant information.

I’ve only heard it can help prevent them, and that is questionable still. Once the infection takes hold I don’t think cranberry juice is going to fix it. Sometimes women think they have a UTI and it is just some bladder discomfort that will resolve on it’s own. Just holding a very full bladder for a long time can cause the bladder to be uncomfortable for hours or days.

The tell tale sign that it is actually a UTI is near the end of emptying your bladder you feel pain. Usually, drinking loads of water, or any liquid, reduces the pain, but you might still have the infection. Some people have no symptoms until they see blood in their urine.

Many people with MS are prone to them and some either drink cranberry juice, take cranberry supplements or take anti-bioticsonce they get a UTI.
I want to avoid taking anti-biotics.
.I take a cranberry supplement as I don’t wish to raise my blood sugar.
It works great in my experience as I haven’t had a UTI in years.

Jesus Christ. I’m 61 years old. I KNOW what a UTI feels like. My doctor trusted me enough to call in a prescription without having me come to the office or do a urine test.
Women have been fighting off UTIs since long before antibiotics arrived on the scene. It can be done. And I’ve done it.

Dude, ease up on @JLeslie.

You asked a question and she’s answering it. What she says, that drinking lots of water or fluid can mask the symptoms of a UTI, is actually true.

Can you flush out a UTI with just fluids? Sure. Is it recommended? No.

Are you interested in actual evidence as asked in your question? Or are you here to argue with anyone that disagrees with your premise that upping fluid intake is the way to go?

Antibiotics AND upping your fluid intake is reccommended by The DOCTOR although she didn’t need to. I already knew that.
My question was specifically about cranberry juice. I don’t need a whole dissertation on UTIs from a non medical personnel who may or may not know what she’s talking about.

No data whatsoever.
https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/cranberry-juice/

Thanks @Caravanfan. Man, that article had me jumping for my dictionary!

So you guys in the medical profession throw feces at the wall to see what sticks??

From your own details:
I have successfully fought off many UTIs with no antibiotics, but just by drinking about a gallon or more of any liquid over the course of a few hours.

From your previous comment:
Women have been fighting off UTIs since long before antibiotics arrived on the scene. It can be done. And I’ve done it.

Both seem to imply that you’re advocating for upping fluid intake WITHOUT any antibiotics. Pretty sure no doctor is going to recommend that.

Wow. Are you now comparing practicing medicine to slinging shit at a wall?

You asked a question. And then start attacking two people who attempt to answer the question.

Are you having a bad day or something? This seems like a strange reaction.

I was quoting from the article @Caravanfan posted.

You can fight off a UTI by drastically increasing your fluid intake because I’ve done it, many times, with no antibiotics. But if you can afford antibiotics, they’re the best way to go, along with increasing your fluid intakes.

I just wondered if cranberry juice has some magic property for UTIs and per @Caravanfan‘s post, it does not. It’s pretty much an old wives tale that refuses to die.

So…basically you’re here to provide us with “a whole dissertation on UTIs from a non medical personnel who may or may not know what she’s talking about”.

@Dutchess_III No worries. My statement was there for anyone reading the thread. It’s not really directed specifically at you. I understand why it pisses you off. I hate when doctors tell me my hair loss is cyclical and normal or because it’s the summertime, or whatever thing they try to tell me about new pain or my heart feeling like it’s fluttering when I’m 52 years old and have been in my body for 52 years, and know what’s normal and what’s not.

I have had UTIs, and successfully treated them with cranberry.

I’ve had irritation down there that I suspect is a UTI (can’t think of anything else that would cause it, though I did not go to the doctor) and I was able to treat it with a heavier intake of fluids. Just my two cents.