Chronic UTI and Next Generation Gene Tests

 

Having complicated or chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) is a health burden many women shoulder. The discomfort, fatigue, and emotional toll of recurring infections can be immense — especially when there seem to be no clear answers.

Routine UTI testing is only around 50% accurate, which means that for people who experience UTI after UTI, standard culture tests often miss the underlying cause. You may be told your test is “negative,” yet your body tells a very different story. As a UTI suffer myself I know the pain, and constant fear of wondering, “Am I going to get another one? “.

Let’s explore what’s really happening when infections persist, the systemic health risks of chronic UTIs, and a more comprehensive test that can identify all the bacteria and fungi living within your urinary and vaginal microbiome.

Chronic infections: the whole-body burden

Chronic UTIs are not just a local bladder issue — they create a whole-body burden. Persistent low-grade infection and inflammation can influence energy levels, sleep, cognition, and even mood. Inflammation from ongoing infection places pressure on the immune system, while repeated antibiotic use can disrupt the balance of beneficial bacteria throughout the gut and vaginal microbiome.

Emerging research shows that chronic UTIs may involve biofilm-forming bacteria — communities of microbes that attach to the bladder wall and resist both immune attack and antibiotics. These infections may fluctuate between flare-ups and quieter periods, but they are rarely gone entirely without deeper intervention.

Antibiotic resistance

Antibiotics remain the mainstay treatment for UTIs, yet frequent or repeated courses can contribute to antibiotic resistance, making future infections harder to treat. In some women, this cycle of infection and antibiotic use can persist for years — temporarily clearing symptoms but never addressing the root cause.

Understanding which bacteria (or fungi) are truly present allows for targeted treatment, reducing unnecessary antibiotic use and supporting a healthier microbial environment for long-term recovery. Microgen Testing also can tell you what antibiotics you are resistant too reducing negative treatment outcomes.

MicroGen testing

When standard urine cultures fail to explain ongoing symptoms, advanced microbiome testing such as MicroGenDX offers a more complete picture.

Unlike standard cultures that grow only a handful of organisms, MicroGen uses qPCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS) to detect and identify all bacterial and fungal DNA present in the sample — including those that are slow-growing or difficult to culture.³ This testing provides insight into the diversity and balance of the urinary and vaginal microbiome, revealing potential overgrowths or hidden infections.

By seeing the full microbial landscape, we can make more informed choices about treatment — whether that involves targeted herbal medicine, antimicrobial support, or restoring microbial balance naturally.

Taking a holistic approach

In clinic, I combine microbiome testing with a thorough case history to understand the broader factors influencing recurrent UTIs — hormonal changes, immune health, microbiome imbalance, antibiotic history, biofilm DNA SNPS, sexual health history and nervous system stress all play a role. Treatment focuses not just on eradicating infection, but on restoring balance and resilience in the urinary and vaginal ecosystems. Many of my clients wonder why they have not heard about this before. I specialize in Women’s genital and urinary tract health and dedicate my time to finding the best evidence based information and testing for you.

If you’ve been struggling with ongoing UTI symptoms and routine testing hasn’t provided answers, more sensitive testing and a holistic approach can make a world of difference. Testing sensitivity is essential for successful treatment.

If you would like to find out more about Microgen testing please book a FREE functional testing call (here) with me and we can see if Microgen is the right decision for you.

 

References

  1. https://microgendx.com/patients/microgendx-patient-test-service-dm-intl

  2. Hernández-Chiñas, U., Ahumada-Cota, R. E., Navarro-Ocaña, A., Chávez-Berrocal, M. E., Molina-López, J., Rocha-Ramírez, L. M., Navarro-Cid Del Prado, A., & Eslava, C. A. (2023). Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Escherichia coli strains isolated during a longitudinal follow-up study of chronic urinary tract infections. Frontiers in public health, 11, 1240392. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1240392

  3. Mareș, C., Petca, R. C., Popescu, R. I., Petca, A., Mulțescu, R., Bulai, C. A., Ene, C. V., Geavlete, P. A., Geavlete, B. F., & Jinga, V. (2024). Update on Urinary Tract Infection Antibiotic Resistance-A Retrospective Study in Females in Conjunction with Clinical Data. Life (Basel, Switzerland), 14(1), 106. https://doi.org/10.3390/life14010106

  4. Bader, M. S., Loeb, M., & Brooks, A. A. (2017). An update on the management of urinary tract infections in the era of antimicrobial resistance. Postgraduate medicine, 129(2), 242–258. https://doi.org/10.1080/00325481.2017.1246055

 
 
Female Health, Gut Health, Hormonal balance, microbiome, Womens Health, Vaginal Microbiome, Recurrent Thrush, Urinary Tract InfectionKatherine MatthewsBiofilm, BV, Bacterial vaginosis, Yeast Infection, Urinary Tract InfectionComment