Many women who struggle with chronic UTIs notice trends in the timing of their infections. These trends should be taken seriously as they may give insight into how they can be appropriately managed. Many women report UTIs in conjunction with or immediately following their menstrual cycle. There is a limited amount of quality research on the topic, with mixed findings, but the magnitude of anecdotal evidence suggests that this association does exist. The mechanism of why UTIs might be linked to periods is not completely understood. However, there are a few biological changes during the menstrual cycle that are likely factors.
Higher vaginal pH during menstruation could increase the risk of UTIs in this window by impacting the vaginal microbiome.