UTI and Your Period: What You Need to Know
Key Takeaways:
- A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection of your urinary system. It happens when harmful bacteria enter your urethra or bladder and start to multiply.
- Your menstrual period itself cannot directly cause a urinary tract infection, but you can be diagnosed with a UTI during your period.
- Vaginal douching (vaginal irrigation) and the use of scented “feminine hygiene” products aren’t necessary. In fact, they may cause irritation and even increase the risk of acquiring a UTI.
If you menstruate, experiencing a UTI while on your period can be an uncomfortable experience.
While a menstrual period may bring pain, pelvic pressure, and make you feel like you need to urinate more, a UTI can tack on additional symptoms.
Feeling a sudden, strong urge to use the restroom, burning when you pee, noticing cloudy urine, or pain that feels different than your usual cramps shouldn’t be ignored.
Keep reading to find out the relationship between UTIs and your period. Plus, learn what to do if you suspect you may have a urinary tract infection during your cycle.
What is a UTI?
A urinary tract infection is a common type of bacterial infection of your urinary system. Your urinary system includes your:
- Kidneys: Produce urine
- Bladder: Stores urine
- Ureters: Carry urine from your kidneys to your bladder
- Urethra: A thin tube that releases urine from your bladder
Most UTIs happen in the bladder. This type of UTI is known as cystitis.
Urinary tract infections can be treated with medication. Without proper care, the infection may spread to the kidneys (pyelonephritis) and become more serious.
Signs You May Have a UTI
If you have a UTI, you may experience the following symptoms, such as:
- Burning or pain with urination
- A strong urge to urinate
- Cloudy urine
- Blood in your urine
- Feeling like you have to urinate more often
- Strong-smelling urine, or urine that smells different
- Only passing small amounts of urine
- Lower abdominal pain or bladder discomfort
Changes in urine color or cloudy urine alone don’t necessarily mean you have a urinary tract infection. This is because dehydration, diet, medications, vaginal discharge, and other factors can change the appearance or smell of your urine.
How Do You Deal With a UTI on Your Period?
Women are more prone to UTIs than men, primarily due to how the female lower urinary tract anatomy is closer to the reproductive organs. In fact, about 40% of women will experience at least one UTI in their lifetime.
We asked board-certified physician assistant Aleece Fosnight what steps you need to take if you’re experiencing a UTI during your period.
Fosnight says that the “treatment of a UTI generally does not change because you are menstruating.”
She goes on to state the importance of contacting your healthcare provider: “You do not need to wait until your period ends to seek treatment [for a urinary tract infection].”
Schedule an Appointment With Your Doctor
Never try to treat a UTI on your own. If you think you may have a UTI, contact your doctor to get the right care.
They may ask for a urine sample and prescribe medication, such as antibiotics, to treat the infection. If you are prescribed medication, take it exactly as directed.
Note: Tell your healthcare team if you are on your period when you give a urine sample, as menstrual blood may affect your test results.
3 Tips for Handling a UTI During Your Menstrual Cycle
While you shouldn’t treat a UTI by yourself without medical care, there are steps you can take to prevent urinary tract infections.
1. Change Your Menstrual Products Often
It’s important to change your menstrual products frequently, as it can reduce your chance of developing a UTI. Inadequate menstrual hygiene is associated with infections.
If you have a UTI during your period, ask your medical provider if you need to stop using any specific menstrual products, such as tampons or menstrual cups.
2. Urinate Regularly
It’s important to use the restroom regularly if you’ve been diagnosed with an infection (and if you’re trying to prevent one). This is because urinating regularly can help clear bacteria out of your urinary tract before they have a chance to multiply.
However, the downside of urinating too often or “just in case” can increase bladder sensitivity, which may make it more difficult for you to hold urine.
3. Stay Hydrated
Being hydrated isn’t only important for managing a UTI and your cycle; it may also prevent constipation. Plus, drinking more water can help flush bacteria from your urinary system.
When to Seek Urgent Medical Care for a UTI
Contact your healthcare provider if you have burning when you pee, urinary urgency, frequent urination, bladder pain, or blood in your urine, especially if symptoms aren’t improving or start getting worse.
Seek medical care sooner if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Chills
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Pain in your back, side, or near your kidneys
These may be signs that the infection has spread to your upper urinary tract and requires immediate treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a UTI delay your period?
Experiencing a delay in your period generally isn’t because of a UTI. However, the stress of being sick may affect your menstrual cycle. If your period is late, don’t automatically assume it’s a UTI. It may be the result of pregnancy, hormonal changes, exercise, perimenopause, or other medical conditions.
Can a UTI cause a missed period?
A urinary tract infection typically won’t cause you to completely miss your period. However, factors such as significant stress may disrupt your cycle. If you’ve missed your period and pregnancy is possible, start with a pregnancy test. If you’re experiencing constant changes to your menstrual cycle, contact your healthcare provider.
Can a UTI cause bleeding like a period?
A UTI may cause blood in the urine, which is known as hematuria. However, a UTI typically doesn’t cause uterine or vaginal bleeding. Visit your healthcare provider if you are experiencing symptoms of a urinary tract infection. You don’t need to delay treatment until after your period has ended.
Is it possible to get a UTI from your period?
No, your period by itself cannot cause a UTI. A urinary tract infection generally only occurs when bacteria enter your urinary tract. Menstruation can change routines involving hygiene, menstrual products, sexual activity, hydration, or bathroom habits, but having a period doesn’t mean you’re more likely to develop an infection.
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, January 22). Urinary tract infection basics.
Czajkowski, K., Broś-Konopielko, M., & Teliga-Czajkowska, J. (2021). Urinary tract infection in women. Przeglad menopauzalny = Menopause review, 20(1), 40–47.
Harvard Health Publishing. (2024, January 29). Pyelonephritis.
Ramaiyer, M., Lulseged, B., Michel, R., Ali, F., Liang, J., & Borahay, M. A. (2023). Menstruation in the USA. Current epidemiology reports, 10(4), 186–195.
Wang, DC., Peng, XF., Chen, WX. et al. The Association of moisture intake and constipation among us adults: evidence from NHANES 2005–2010. BMC Public Health 25, 399 (2025).
Wisely, R. (2023, November 16). Do your UTIs keep returning? Michigan Medicine.
Yale Medicine. (n.d.). Cystitis.
This article was developed in partnership with, and sponsored by, Aeroflow. NAFC collaborates with select partners to bring our community information and resources that support bladder and bowel health.
