Recent investigations into the pathogenesis of urinary tract infections has led to significant understanding in the interaction between uropathogens and the urogenital tract. From this understanding there is already the potential for new types of therapy. Reviewed here are these mechanisms since they offer future potential pragmatic approaches to infection. In addition, a practical approach to management of lower urinary tract infections in females is discussed, to provide a physician with methods to treat infection. Non-bacterial cystitis, or the urgency-frequency syndrome, also has new developments that offer new therapy of these diseases. Some of these findings are discussed as well as the current methodologies used to treat it.