Periods should come regularly when you’re not trying to conceive. However, there are instances when they get delayed and it can be a worrying thought for any women whether or not they are trying to get pregnant. Yet again, there are reasons why your period might be a bit late.
A urinary tract infection (UTI) affects more women than it does men. The female anatomy puts ladies at a slight disadvantage here as the urethra in women is shorter than that of males. As such, bacteria only need a short distance to travel in order to reach the bladder. [1]
Many ladies have also wondered whether getting a UTI affects the arrival of menstruation. There are a certain number of days between the previous bleeding and the next, and when a UTI is thrown into the middle of it, it’s not unusual to wonder whether it is causing periods to be delayed.
Before the question can be answered, it’s important to know just what a urinary tract infection is and what causes delayed menstruation.
What is a Urinary Tract Infection?
As its name suggests, a UTI is the infection of the urinary system which includes the bladder, kidneys, ureters, and urethra. Most of the infections occur in the lower urinary tract which includes the bladder and urethra. A UTI can be a painful experience for a sufferer and symptoms [2] include:
- a burning sensation when urinating
- constant need to urinate
- passing small amounts of urine frequently
- urine with a strong smell
- cloudy urine
- pelvic pain
A UTI affects different parts of the urinary tract and, there are specific signs and symptoms depending on which part is infected:
- bladder (also called cystitis) – discomfort in the lower abdomen, urination that is frequent and painful, blood in the urine, pelvic pressure
- kidneys (acute pyelonephritis) – pain on the upper back and side, high fever, nausea, vomiting, shaking and chills.
- urethra (urethritis) – burning sensation when peeing, discharge
UTI occurs when bacteria gets into the urinary tract by way of the urethra and multiply in the bladder. Your urinary system is designed to keep them out, but there are occasions when they fail. The uncontrolled growth of bacteria is what leads to infections.
Normal case UTIs can be treated with antibiotics but more severe varieties may need hospital treatment.
There are ways to limit the risk of UTIs [3], and these include:
- drinking plenty of water – this dilutes the urine and although it makes you go to the bathroom more often, it is an effective way of flushing out bacteria from the urinary tract
- wiping from front to back – this stops the spread of bacteria from the anal region to the vagina and urethra; always do this after urinating and bowel movements
- changing birth control method – items such as diaphragms and preservatives treated with spermicide are culprits in the growth of bacteria
Reasons for a Late Period
Pregnancy might be the top reason for a missed period but if you’re not trying for a child, there may be other reasons for your late period [4]. It may be caused by:
- too much exercise and excessive weight loss – a dramatic drop in body weight may lead to missed periods and so can excessive exercise. For instance, training for a marathon puts the body in too much stress and prevents ovulation in the process.
- stress – period hormones are regulated in the hypothalamus which can be affected by stress.
- thyroid imbalance – the thyroid gland is responsible for regulating metabolism and problems with it can affect your period.
- polycystic ovary syndrome – a hormone imbalance that leads to lack of ovulation causing you not to menstruate.
- birth control method – the side effect of some products include missed periods plus it takes a while for menses to return if you’ve stopped birth control.
- chronic diseases – celiac is often mentioned but chronic diseases (especially those that are left untreated) in general cause stresses your system which can then affect your period.
UTI and Your Menstruation
Now that you know the basics of a urinary tract infection and the possible causes of a late period, is there a possible connection between them? Put simply, can suffering from a UTI be the cause of menstruation being delayed? The short answer is no but it may also be possible. How can that be?
As discussed earlier, stressors to the body can delay ovulation leading to your period coming in later than expected. But generally, UTI isn’t a common reason for you not menstruating on an expected date. [5]
Women are more prone than men to be affected by UTI mostly because of shorter urethras. They can even suffer from it more than once and when that happens, it’s best to consult a doctor who can tell you the further steps to take which may include additional treatments.
References
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1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20353447
2. https://www.webmd.com/women/guide/your-guide-urinary-tract-infections
3. https://www.everydayhealth.com/urinary-tract-infection/how-prevent-utis/
4. https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/why-is-my-period-late
5. https://uqora.com/blogs/news/can-having-a-uti-affect-your-period
I been having lower stomach pain and haven’t had my period in about 13 days and i don’t know what is going on when i pee at times and it hurts i have blood and i been smelling period with that blood but yet no period. I did have protected intercourse a week before and did have uti symptoms before so I don’t know
Hello Cassandra, I recommend you to see a doctor, cause without an exam I can’t know what is wrong with your period.
Hi I’m cassey I am delayed for 2 months and I’m so stressed for 8 months because I’m a working student.. And my boyfriend and I had intercourse but we were protected .. I take a pt but it has a faint line. I’ll go to the hospital and check they test the urine and blood test but the result is acute UTI..
What should I do.. I’m so stress and panic I don’t know what you should I do
Please help me
I didn’t understand your pregnancy test result. If it was negative then you have nothing to worry about.
Acute UTIs can be treated with a course of antibiotics. Visit your GP to have a prescription. Also, get your partner checked in case you’re worried about contracting the disease again.
Hi
I engaged in sexual activity but he wore a preservative and only the tip went in. This took place Around November 10th. After this I was in a car accident and experienced a lot of stress from school and I still haven’t gotten my period . I took a pregnancy test at the end of December and it came back negative. Recently I went to the dr and she put me on UTI medication because she saw white blood cells in my urine. I am still on the medication but my period hasn’t come yet.
There is a lot of reasons why your period is not coming, and in this case, I think that pregnancy is the last one. Probably you have not been ovulating due to stress from the car accident or the worry you put your body into.
Hi i am sadhwi i am 20 year’s old,does pyelonephritis delay periods,now it’s like 3 months that i am having back pain also pain in my right side very much,A burning sensation when urinating, shortness of breath,passing small amounts of urine frequently,what should i do. if i have pyelonephritis what should i eat and not to eat.😔🥺😥😥
How do you know you’ve pyelonephritis? I think you’ve read it online somewhere and relating your symptoms with it.
Visit a nephrologist first, get CBC, Ultrasound KUB, and RPMs done. Get examined and start a course of antibiotics. Your symptoms will improve in a week’s time.
I had unprotected intercourse (withdrawal) before 2 days of my period but I got my period on time.
After 2 months now my period is sudden delayed by 10 days. I had regular period in two months but now it’s messed up. I am panicked.
Please help
Hello Kushi, it is probably due to stress, but if it continues for more than 3 months I recommend seeing a doctor.
Hi I’m on a 25 day cycle the first day of my last period was august 24th I took tests all negative I’m now 9 days late on I went to doctors on day 7 an found out I had a water infection I also have bloating that feels heavy and lower back pain I did have unprotected intercourse on day of ovulation but didn’t think I am pregnant as tests are all negative I have also had spotting over 3 days where I wipe and their is a small amount of light blood stain which just happens 2-3 times a day could this be down to my water infection? I finish my antibiotics tomorrow morning after a 3 day course
Hi Sam,
If your menstrual period is 9 days late there is something going on there. I know you had a test one but I would wait a week and test again. Sometimes you can have a false-negative result if you test too early. There are things that can delay your periods like stress and strenuous exercise, chronic disease, and a thyroid imbalance. And because you are experiencing spotting I think you should take a second test.
Hi
I had a protected intercourse with my boyfriend and had a uti after 10 days of my period the previous month but now there is a delay in my periods it has been 7 days but still I didn’t get my periods does uti affect my period
Hi Andria,
A UTI by itself would not delay your period 7 days. There are other factors that can cause delays with your cycle but not a UTI. If you still haven’t gotten it after a couple more days you should go see your doctor and have them test you.
Hey, I am Eve, I had unprotected intercourse with my husband(withdrawal) and I’ve missed my periods for two months,I didn’t take it seriously wen I missed for the first time cause I used to have missed periods. I used an HCG for testing but the results were negative so I don’t know what could be the problem
Hello Eve, you should do an ultrasound, cause you can’t be sure what is happening.
Hello i’m very weirded out by what happened to me.
Basically there’s about a week and a half till my next period and my symptoms like sore boobs started which is normal, and right when they started i had unprotected intercourse a few times and then the sore boobs stopped. Right after that I got UTI and now my sore boobs are on and off. What could be wrong w me? pls tell me.
Hello Lily, sore boobs are common thing before the start of your period. It is probably caused by hormone changes before your period.