You have to take them seriously. I get them often and at one time I decided to just use Azo Standard (great for pain relief) and cranberry pills. I did start to feel better but before I knew it the infection had moved to my kidney and I suffered long and hard. I had to lay off training for many weeks and now I have to watch what I drink. No more soft drinks. You have to get antibiotics to get rid of these each time you get one! It's not worth the price you'll pay if you don't.