Recurrent urinary tract infections are typical diseases of sexually active young women. Only elder women show significant rates of underlying, mostly urological diseases. Besides behavioral changes long-term antimicrobial therapy is still the mainstay of both prophylaxis and therapy. This report provides information on the etiology for recurrent urinary tract infections. Strategies for prevention are illustrated. The actual significances of organic remedies and antibiotics respectively are discussed; ineffective therapies are identified. Furthermore an outlook is given on promising novel therapeutics, i.e. vaccines which are already tested in clinical trials.