Is prescription medicine necessary to treat a UTI?!

Is prescription medicine necessary to treat a UTI?

I just recently found out that I am prone to UTI's (Urinary Track Infections). I have read that anti-biotics help reduce this, but I have also read that drinking lots of cranberry juice and flushing out fluids helps as well. My question is..Is there a way to get rid of my UTI on my own or is this something only a doctor can treat? Also, are there any over-the-counter medicines to treat this? Thank you everyone!

Also known as cystitis or a bladder infection, a urinary tract infection (UTI) inflames the bladder or urethra (the tube that transports urine out of the bladder). The problem most frequently affects females; in fact, one in five women suffers from a UTI at least once a year. These infections are best treated promptly and antibiotics may be necessary because recurring UTIs can lead to potentially serious kidney infections.

What causes it - Essentially, all UTIs result from a bacterial infection. Normally, urine is sterile (germ free) when it is excreted by the kidneys and stored in the bladder; it washes out the small amount of bacteria in the urethra as it passes to the outside. But sometimes, bacteria in the urinary tract overwhelm the body's immune defenses and multiply, causing an infection. Ignoring the urge to urinate may increase the likelihood of UTIs. In addition, improper hygiene may be a factor, as well as pregnancy (the bladder can be compressed by the fetus and is unable to empty completely).

How supplements can help-
Take the recommended supplements at the first hint of burning during urination. Start with vitamin C and cranberry. Vitamin C helps acidify urine, making the bladder a less inviting environment for harmful bacteria to colonize; it strengthens the body's immune defenses as well. Cranberry also acidifies the urine, but more important, it prevents infectious bacteria from adhering to the lining of the urinary tract. Less is known about how uva ursi works, though for some people this herb is a very effective alternative to vitamin C and cranberry (it should not be taken with those acidifying substances or for longer than a week). Any of these supplements can be used along with various anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting herbal teas made from goldenseal, echinacea, and nettle; in addition, the extra fluids help wash bacteria away.

Vitamin C: 500 mg every other hour, as tolerated. Stop using if bowel movements become loose.

Cranberry : 400 mg twice a day. Or drink 16 ounces of pure, unsweetened juice a day.

Goldenseal: 1 cup goldenseal tea several times a day. Goldenseal can also be blended with echinacea or nettle tea.

Acidophilus: 1 pill (1-2 billion live organisms) twice a day. Take if your doctor has also prescribed antibiotics.

Uva Ursi:500 mg, or 1-2 tsp. tincture, 4 times a day for 1 week. Buy extract standardized to contain 20% arbutin. Don't take with vitamin C or cranberry. Avoid if pregnant.

Echinacea: 1 cup echinacea tea several times a day. You can blend this herb with goldenseal or nettle.

Nettle: 1 cup nettle tea several times a day.
You can blend this herb with echinacea or goldenseal.