According to the UCBI, urinary tract infections (UTIs) are responsible for an estimated 7 million office visits and 100,000 hospitalizations each year. And the National Kidney Foundation estimates that over 20% of women will experience a UTI at least once in their lifetime.
UTIs can occur when harmful bacteria (usually E. coli) enter into the bladder (through the urinary tract) and multiply. Those with UTIs may experience a burning sensation when urinating, an urge to urinate with the inability to do so, and/or an aching pressure in the lower back or lower abdomen. A small percentage of women may even experience having cloudy, blood-tinged, and/or strong odorous urine. UTIs can have serious and potentially life-threatening implications for patients, and the only treatment for a UTI is antibiotics.
If a woman has recurrent UTIs with no clear reason, her doctor may refer her to a specialist like a urogynecologist. Women may also undergo urodynamic studies or even surgical options in order to prevent further UTIs in some cases. Beyond that, prevention options have been limited.
That is where Uqora comes in. Founded in 2014, the company offers several products designed to help women (and men) minimize UTI outbreaks. That is, Uqora products focus on preventing UTIs in the first place rather than on treating them. Read further to see our evaluation of the company and its products.
Pros
- Unlike other home health companies we review, Uqora focuses on the prevention of just one ailment: UTIs.
- Uqora has top-notch online chat support, which can help you get all of your questions answered.
- All Uqora products come with a solid 100% money-back guarantee. If the product doesn’t work for you, ask for a refund.
- If you choose to purchase an ongoing subscription to any Uqora product, you can save 15%+ off retail prices.
Cons
- We don’t like how the products’ prices are initially shown assuming you want to subscribe to the products. We feel this is misleading.
- Other D-mannose and probiotic supplements for preventing UTIs are available at lower prices.
- It is tempting to purchase the entire “Prevention System,” but we don’t think that costly bundle is needed for most customers.
- Studies show that Uqora products (mainly Target) can reduce instances of UTIs by up to 4x, but they will not stop all UTIs.
Bottom Line
If you have tried the “traditional” prevention strategies such as urinating after sex or drinking cranberry juice (which is not scientifically proven to work, by the way) and you are still getting UTIs, then we can wholeheartedly recommend that you give preventative supplements like Uqora a try. In fact, many of our readers swear by them. However, you can find very similar preventative products available elsewhere for less money – products equally based in sound science. None of these products are guaranteed to prevent all UTIs.
Uqora
Since 2014, Uqora has created products that focus on UTI prevention rather than treatment, offering several products designed to help women (and men).
You can save approximately 20% by purchasing one of the company’s product bundles. If you decide to buy all three products -- Target, Control, and Promote -- you can save 32% off the cost of buying all three individually.
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This guide, like all medical-related content on our website, is thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy. Additionally, we extensively analyze each health-related service we review. We evaluate the entire customer experience from signing up to the use of the product or service, and then offer unbiased, marketing-jargon-free analysis based on the latest scientific evidence and medical standards.
Uqora’s Target [see latest prices], the company’s most popular product, is a drink mix that comes in individual packets. After sexual intercourse, you pour the mix into eight to 12 ounces of water and drink. This product is for anyone who gets UTIs. For most people researching Uqora products online, this is likely the one you are looking for and should consider purchasing.
So does it work? Many of our readers, and one of the researchers for this review, have had a very good experience with Target. While we have yet to find any solution that prevents 100% of UTIs, for many people, Target can significantly reduce the frequency of occurrences.
How does it work? Target’s main active ingredient is a six-carbon sugar called D-mannose that helps disrupt E. coli bacteria from binding on to the urethral wall, which is required for the E. coli to colonize the urinary tract. Several scientific studies support the efficacy of D-mannose and indicate that those taking it were four times less likely to develop UTIs over a six-month period.
Target’s other active ingredients include Vitamin C, an antioxidant that has been demonstrated to support the immune system, and Vitamin B6, a mild diuretic that increases urination and urinary flow (this helps physically flush out free bacteria from the urinary tract).
Lastly, we wanted to point out that the drink mix does taste a little like lemonade – not great lemonade, but not that bad either.
Uqora’s Control [see latest prices] are capsules that are to be taken daily by people who “aren’t always sure what causes your UTIs.” Yes, that sounds fairly vague and likely includes most people. Let us try to explain what Control is and how it works. Microbial biofilms are essentially a collective group of one or more types of microorganisms, usually bacteria, that function as a protective layer for harmful E. coli bacteria. These biofilms sometimes make it difficult to treat and rid oneself of UTIs. The Control product works by breaking down existing biofilm and preventing new bacteria from re-creating new biofilm in the future.
Should you purchase Control? Everyone’s body chemistry is different, and that makes it difficult for us to give one blanket recommendation. For many people, we believe the Target product alone should significantly reduce the chances of getting another UTI. However, many customers do swear by the Target + Control combo as the underlying reason UTIs were prevented. We would say that if cost is a major concern, try the Target product alone and see if that works for you. However, if you have just had it with UTIs and want to maximize your chances of preventing them for good, then give the Target + Control bundle [see latest prices] a try.
By killing off UTI-causing bacteria, antibiotics are still the most effective treatment for UTIs. However, antibiotics tend to also kill beneficial bacteria in other places in the body, including the vagina. Killing off this “good” bacteria can create an environment where the “bad” bacteria, usually E. coli, can thrive. That is where Uqora’s Promote product [see latest prices] comes in. Promote contains probiotics that aim to restore and maintain beneficial bacteria in the vagina, hence further protecting you from UTIs.
Does it work? Several scientific studies have indicated a significant reduction in UTIs (though not complete reduction) for women who took probiotics versus those who took a placebo. Additionally, many of our readers give the Promote product favorable reviews, although it is important to keep in mind that most customers using Promote are also using some combination of Uqora’s other products, Target and Control. If a customer successfully prevents future UTIs, it is nearly impossible to isolate which product played the biggest role, or if they worked in conjunction for that matter.
Should you purchase Promote? If you have treated UTIs multiple times with antibiotics, only to find that the UTIs return, you may want to give Promote a try. We hesitate to give the product our full endorsement only because the costs of trying two or three of the Uqora products together can really add up. And for many people, the Target product alone can significantly reduce the frequency of UTIs. However, having experienced UTIs ourselves, many of us have decided that we will do whatever it takes to stop UTIs from happening again. If you are one of these people, then consider giving Uqora Promote a try.
In a nutshell, if you purchase more than one Uqora product in the same order, you can save approximately 20% by purchasing one of the company’s product bundles. And if you decide that all three products, Target, Control, and Promote, are all right for you, you can save 32% off the cost of buying all three individually. If after doing your research, you decide that more than one Uqora product is right for you, then definitely consider buying the products together in a bundle. The savings really start to add up.
One marketing technique that Uqora uses on its product pages is displaying lower prices (usually around 15% lower), assuming that you want to subscribe to one or more of the products. If you decide to make a one-time purchase, then you will have to pay a price higher than the one listed. We are not thrilled by this practice, but it is becoming increasingly common with companies such as Amazon.
With that little disclaimer out of the way, there are actually many reasons why you might decide to subscribe beyond saving an additional 15%. The benefits include:
- For regular customers, you do not have to go through the hassle of constantly placing reorders.
- Subscriptions increase the likelihood that you will always have enough product on hand when you need it.
- It is very easy to cancel and/or return unused products that are no longer needed. You can cancel on the Uqora website.
- Did we mention you can save 15% subscribing and then immediately canceling the subscription? (You didn’t hear that from us.)
We customize our evaluation criteria depending on the type and nature of the products available. For most tests, we have four areas that we use for our evaluations, including:
Value: Are you getting your money’s worth? How do the prices compare to those of the competition? Are there any hidden costs or charges?
Convenience: How long does it take to enter all information and place an order? How fast will you receive your products or test results from the moment you click “buy?” Are subscription plans straightforward and easy to manage?
Privacy: Are all products and tests sent in discreet packaging? Will your data be stored securely? Could your data ever be shared without your permission?
Customer Support: How well does the company help you choose the right products for you? Are you able to speak with qualified medical professionals if you want? What is the company’s return policy?
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