UTI or urinary tract infection is a pretty common health disorder among sexually active women. It can be painful and accompanied by a strong feeling of urinating and a burning sensation. This infection is the result of bacteria entering the urethra during sexual intercourse.
There is a myth that UTI can directly lead to a delayed period but that’s not true. However, the period can create a false belief that you are pregnant. If you are confused if UTI can affect your duration or not, this article will provide all the information about it. But before answering your question “can a UTI delay your period?” Let’s start knowing something about it.
What is a Urinary tract infection?
Urinary tract infection refers to any kind of infection in the urinary system. It can damage the kidney, ureter, bladder, and urethra. Women are most prone to suffer from UTIs than men. The disease won’t be dangerous if it’s limited to the bladder but can feel painful and irritating. Once it reaches the kidney, it can be life-threatening. The most common one is the bacteria called Escherichia coli (E.coli) which resides in the rectum and reaches the urethra with sexual contact.
Symptoms of UTI
- Pain in the bladder, groin, lower abdomen, and pelvis
- Painful urination and sexual intercourse
- Changes in the urine smell
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Cramping
- Irritation in Vagina
What’s the relation between UTI and period?
UTI can’t delay the period directly, researchers have already claimed this. By the way, it can lead to stress. So don’t blame the infection because it has nothing to do with your reproductive organs.
Stress is the primary reason behind the delayed period. It affects the ovarian cycle by activating the hypothalamus-pituitary gland adrenal axis, as confirmed by the Gynaecologists at St. Mary’s Hospital. As a result, it alters your menstrual cycle and causes a delay in periods.
There is another situation when the menstrual cycle can directly impact the UTI duration due to the low level of estrogen production. This hormone maintains the balance of good bacteria in your vagina which keeps it healthy with a normal pH level.
Can antibiotics affect your period duration?
If UTI is making things tough for you, doctors will recommend antibiotics. They will prevent the bacteria from multiplying. But this doesn’t mean it can delay your period in any manner.
Antibiotics for periods are a safe option if we keep a few options separate such as rifampin. It’s the only medicine for UTI that can cause a delayed period.
Common Reasons Behind Delayed Period
As you know the truth now, you must also know some of the common reasons behind your delayed period:
- Overactive thyroid
- PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)
- Stress
- Weight gain or weight loss
- Diabetes
- Primary ovarian insufficiency (Poi)
Final Thoughts
The high-stress level is not good for your health in any sense. Not only in case of the delayed period but in general as well. You may get heart disease and ruin your sleeping pattern due to stress. Some even become insomniacs, which can be the worst-case scenario for you. Ultimately, the result will be depression, a state of confusion, loss of concentration, and more. To combat all these, it’s better to keep your life stress free and consult your gynecologist.