Summary: Wisp is a sexual health and wellness company that offers UTI treatments, including preventative care, STD and STI testing and treatment, as well as fertility testing. I’ve been prescribed UTI antibiotics through Wisp five times over the past four years, and each time I am able to get my antibiotics within 24 hours or less of my order. I’m thrilled that the brand also offers more preventative products like suppositories, probiotics, and other supplements — it’s a great one-stop shop for someone like me who gets frequent urinary tract infections!
Pros:
- Wisp is a quick way to get UTI treatment, even as soon as the same day, from your local pharmacy.
- The pricing, while not cheap, is worth it in my book for how fast you can get your treatment.
- The brand offers a wide range of sexual wellness products outside of UTI treatments, including preventative care, STD and STI testing and treatment, as well as fertility testing.
- I was able to get all my preventative treatments and probiotics in my order alongside the antibiotic — a big plus, and a good reminder for folks like me who get frequent UTIs! (And don’t worry, I’m still going to talk to my doctor about this.)
Cons:
- You don’t do an in-office test, so I recommend being very familiar with UTI symptoms so you don’t take unnecessary antibiotics. (It might not be a great fit for first-timers who are unsure if that’s what they have.)
- Wisp doesn’t accept insurance (although this helps it remain more efficient).
- You have to make sure to fill out all your consultation forms before the provider can order your prescription — just keep an eye out!
- Add-ons like probiotics and test strips do ship separately, so you won’t get those as quickly as prescription orders.
Far too many of us know the dread of racing to the restroom for an urgent bladder break, only to be met with nothing more than a few drops of sting and disappointment. I am, of course, talking about that very first moment you realize you have a UTI.
“I’ve started coming to terms with the fact that I am particularly susceptible to these infections, and getting way more serious about preventing them.”
I’ve had my fair share of urgent care visits, last-minute CVS drop-ins, and even sleepless, shaking, and feverish nights due to UTIs over the years. I’ve started coming to terms with the fact that I am particularly susceptible to these infections, and getting way more serious about preventing them. I don’t want to constantly be circling back onto antibiotics, and certainly don’t want to experience the emotional toll that comes with feeling…just gross for so long.
“Just pee after sex!” you might say, but most of the time I’m not even getting the UTI from something that fun. I’ve ended up with infections from wearing sweaty yoga leggings just a few moments too long, international air travel, and the one I’m currently suspicious of having is in response to a 7-day fever where I could hardly keep down any water.
Since prevention only gets me so far, I’ve had to rely on those clinic drop-ins which usually take me at least a few days to find the time for (meaning I’m only letting the infection and its symptoms get worse). For years, I’ve Googled homemade remedies or at-home test kits praying I could just get treatment with a couple clicks of a button but to no avail — until I discovered Wisp.
What is Wisp?
Wisp is a telehealth company dedicated to making sexual and reproductive healthcare accessible, affordable, and judgment-free (emphasis on that last point, I’m always very self-conscious when I get a UTI). Founded in 2018 and now available in all 50 US states, Wisp has been expanding its offerings rapidly so it’s easier to get the care you need on your own terms. In 2021, the brand launched consultations for patients to get UTI antibiotics — and you better believe I used it as soon as my next symptoms came around.
“Wisp is a telehealth company dedicated to making sexual and reproductive healthcare accessible, affordable, and judgment-free.”
While my review will focus on the treatment and preventative care options for UTIs from Wisp, you can find an extensive range of sexual and reproductive health support depending on your needs! Currently, as of summer 2024, the brand offers the following:
- UTI antibiotics
- UTI prevention like D-Mannose supplements, boric acid suppositories, and probiotics
- Yeast infection treatments (e.g., Fluconazole/Diflucan)
- Bacterial vaginosis treatments (e.g., Metronidazole/Flagyl)
- Herpes treatments (HSV-1 and HSV-2, including Valacyclovir and Acyclovir)
- Vaginal dryness treatments
- At-home STD testing kits
- Treatments for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Trichomoniasis in addition to DoxyPEP for STI prevention
- Birth control
- Emergency contraception
- Medical abortion services
- Menstrual cycle control medications
- Zofran (Ondansetron) for nausea
You’ll also find sexual enhancement supplements for men and women, lube and toy-safe cleansers, and even fertility products like prenatal vitamins and fertility test kits.
But the real question of the hour — especially since it often operates outside of traditional insurance, is Wisp worth it?
What is the process for treating a UTI with Wisp?
For context, I have now been a Wisp customer five separate times in total since 2021 (hey, I’ve had a rough go of it). Each of those times I paid out of pocket for both the assessments and the antibiotics, and was so relieved to skip the urgent care wait times that I can hardly imagine ever going back. Here’s how the process goes:
- Start by ordering the UTI treatment you prefer — the providers can offer you a specific medicine or you are also able to leave it up to them based on what might be best. (I know I always have success with Nitrofurantoin, but everyone will be different). The cost of this whole process is $65 before any add-ons, and you’ll pay for the medicine at the pharmacy later.
Just a heads up here, you will have to click through several additional questions regarding items for purchase on top of the antibiotics. If you’re like me, eventually you might want to add the UTI test strips, daily probiotics, and supplemental probiotics to balance out the antibiotics. But the brand also suggests options for pain, BV, and yeast infection treatments, and more.
- Once you’ve added to your cart, you’ll head to checkout and answer a few basic questions about yourself, like what medicines you are currently taking and if you have any allergies. You’ll also select a pharmacy.
At this point, you’ll be prompted to submit an assessment that goes into further depth about your symptoms so that the practitioners can get a good feel for what you’re dealing with. Make sure you take this step because they can’t order your prescription without it!
- Wisp will then send your request to one of its board-certified providers, who are thoroughly vetted by Wisp’s regulatory staff. Again, there are licensed providers in all 50 states!
I’ve found that usually within about three hours, the provider has approved and ordered my medicine to the CVS down the street. Most of the time, I can pick up my prescription on the same day (it’s such a relief). Know that you will have to pay for the medicine at the pharmacy, as well as the fees for Wisp’s services, but I’ve found it’s usually less than $20.
Any additional Wisp products you ordered will be shipped separately from the brand, so you’ll have to wait a little longer for those.
If you’re not quite sure what you’re dealing with, Wisp also offers an anonymous symptoms quiz to help you out. I’ve used it before when I was unsure if I was navigating a yeast infection or yet another UTI. Since I’m already being so transparent about all this, I can tell you that it was a yeast infection that time.
Below, I’ve included some screenshots so you can see the Wisp interface.
How does Wisp’s preventative care work?
Since I have been on and off the antibiotic train, I’m also well aware of the toll it’s taking on my gut health, so I finally added some of Wisp’s daily probiotics to my order. For the sake of this review, the brand also sent me UTI test strips, D-Mannose capsules, boric acid suppositories, and equalizing probiotics (to be taken alongside the antibiotics).
Everything arrived quickly, although the suppositories arrived separately since I’m assuming they came from another source. (One note — the suppositories don’t come with an applicator if that’s a dealbreaker for you!) The packaging is simple and discreet, which is nice if it’s sitting out on a doorstep for a little while.
“The packaging is simple and discreet, which is nice if it’s sitting out on a doorstep for a little while.”
And oh, the timing! I’m just coming out of a weeklong fever that never tested as anything specific, but it was likely a form of strep throat. It was so dire that keeping food or water down became my own personal Olympics, and I often felt so woozy that showers felt like a fall risk. Needless to say — when the first UTI symptoms showed up near the end of the week it nearly broke my morale.
I used the test strips to get an indication of what might be going on, and instantly the colors turned bright and vibrant to indicate leukocytes and nitrates in my urine. I crawled back into bed, lamenting the fact that my appetite was so poor that I hadn’t even been able to take my preventative probiotics for a week.
As I enter into yet another round of treatment for a UTI, I’m feeling confident that I have the proper tools to support my poor, disrupted gut. I’ll be taking the equalizing probiotics alongside my antibiotics, and will report the findings from my test strips to the provider in case there’s a better antibiotic for this case.
Now moving forward, my probiotics are a non-negotiable for my morning routines. I’m also keeping an arsenal of the boric acid suppositories and D-Mannose capsules at my disposal for any time I might be exposed to something disruptive (I’m looking at you, autumn travel).
Is Wisp worth it?
Each time I use Wisp, I am delighted with how quickly I can get my treatment started, and have always had success getting rid of those dreaded UTIs.
“For ease, convenience, and effectiveness in treating painful UTIs, I’ve found Wisp entirely worth it.”
So yes, for ease, convenience, and effectiveness in treating painful UTIs, I’ve found Wisp entirely worth it. Especially if you’re familiar with the feeling of a UTI coming on, Wisp makes the path to treatment quick.
It also serves as a great reminder to keep pursuing this conversation with my doctor — being resigned to a life of UTIs isn’t exactly my idea of a good time. For now, antibiotics — but here’s to moving forward into a preventative space and prioritizing my health!
Emily McGowan is the Editorial Director at The Good Trade. She studied Creative Writing and Business at Indiana University, and has over ten years of experience as a writer and editor in sustainability and lifestyle spaces. Since 2017, she’s been discovering and reviewing the top sustainable home, fashion, beauty, and wellness products so readers can make their most informed decisions. Her editorial work has been recognized by major publications like The New York Times and BBC Worklife. You can usually find her in her colorful Los Angeles apartment journaling, caring for her rabbits and cat, or gaming. Say hi on Instagram!
