To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment

You can help your health professional diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:

• How long have you had your symptoms?
• What are your symptoms? Have you had:
  • Pain or burning upon urination?
  • An urge to urinate frequently, but you usually pass only small quantities of urine?
  • Dribbling (inability to control urine release)?
  • Reddish or pinkish urine?
  • Bad-smelling urine?
  • Cloudy urine?
• Have you had a fever?
• Have you had flank or belly pain?
• Have you had nausea or vomiting?
• Have you had vaginal or penile discharge or itching? Do you have a new sex partner, or do you practice high-risk sexual behavior?
• Have you ever had a problem like this in the past? If so, when? How was it treated?
• What do you think may have triggered this episode?
• Have you had a recent injury to the belly, pelvis, or back?
• What home treatments have you tried, and how effective were they?
• Do you have any health risks?

Remember that a urine specimen will probably be collected during your office visit. Try not to urinate immediately before the visit.