Can Menopause Cause UTIs?

During menopause, your hormone levels like oestrogen and progesterone can change quite a lot. You might start to notice things like brain fog, low energy, mood swings or hot flushes, which can make everyday life feel a bit more challenging. 

Many women also begin to ask: can menopause cause UTIs? Unfortunately, if you’re going through menopause, the risk of developing UTIs is higher than the average person. Luckily, treatments used to soothe menopause symptoms replace the oestrogen, minimising the risks of developing these unpleasant conditions.

At Marion Gluck, we’ve created a guide on why your risk of UTIs increases during menopause, what to look out for and how to prevent developing them before they’ve begun. 

What is a UTI? 

A UTI (or Urinary Tract Infection) is a painful infection that occurs when nasty bacteria enters the urethra. Most commonly, this can be caused by: 

• Sex
• Improper wiping
• Blocked urine flow (caused by kidney stones)
• Catheter use
• Contraceptives
• Menopause

Why can menopause cause UTIs?

UTIs can often be prevented through good hygiene, drinking lots of water and healthy sexual habits like going to the toilet after sex. But, if your UTI is caused by the effects of menopause, it’s important you know it’s nothing you have done- it’s just your hormones adjusting. 

Oestrogen is important for keeping the vaginal and urethra tissue elastic and moist. During menopause, your oestrogen levels drop dramatically, causing irritation like dryness, itchiness and burning. Unfortunately, this drop in elasticity also means the muscles in your urethra are weaker, allowing more harmful bacteria to enter and grow. 

Oestrogen also increases the level of helpful bacteria in this area. When these levels drop during or after menopause, your body is less able to fight off any bacteria that’s made its way into the urethra, allowing it to travel into the bladder more easily. 

“The vaginal microbiome changes with age. This delicate balance of beneficial bacteria plays a vital role in vaginal health and can significantly influence a woman’s risk of developing recurrent UTIs. Here at the Marion Gluck Clinic we can help support women who are experiencing issues with their vaginal health.” – Dr Ghazala, Women Health Expert. 

What are the symptoms of a UTI? 

A UTI is often easy to spot, and the moment you do, it’s usually met with a sinking feeling. The symptoms are distinctive: 

• A sudden need to go to the toilet
• Peeing more frequently
• A burning sensation while peeing
• Unusual discharge
• Lower belly discomfort
• Dark pee, often a reddish or brown colour

If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important you go and see your doctor, who will be able to give you antibiotics. 

How can I treat UTIs during menopause?

The treatment for UTIs is exactly the same whether you’re going through menopause or not. It’s important you visit your GP when presenting symptoms of a UTI, to prevent the infection from getting worse. In most cases, a course of antibiotics clears up symptoms within 3 days. 

How can I prevent UTIs during menopause?

There are small lifestyle changes that can decrease your chances of developing UTIs that apply for anyone throughout their life. Here are some quick habits to build into your lifestyle: 

• Always wipe from front to back
• Make sure you pee after sex, even if you’re tired
• Try to avoid strongly fragranced soaps 
• Keep the genital area dry
• Try not to hold in your pee 
• Fully empty your bladder
• Make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day

If you’re looking for a solution to soothe menopausal symptoms, including repeat UTIs, Marion Gluck Clinic can help. We provide women with BHRT (Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy), to restore the hormones lost during menopause, including oestrogen. 

BHRT acts with the same purpose as HRT, but is a safer and more efficient alternative. Extracted from yams, the compounds used in BHRT are structurally identical to the hormones lost during menopause, with the benefit of less side effects normally experienced with standard HRT. 

Key benefits of taking BHRT include:

• Reduced hot flushes
• Improved mood and overall emotional stability
• Increased energy
• Better sleep quality
• Improved libido
• Stronger heart and bone health
• Prevention of osteoporosis
• Improved muscle tone and mass
• Better memory and cognitive function

Want to feel like yourself again? 

If you’re dealing with uncomfortable menopause symptoms like vaginal dryness, mood swings and recurrent UTIs, it’s completely understandable to start asking questions like, can menopause cause UTIs?

 All our doctors are highly-trained specialists in hormone replacement treatments, and tailor our medication to your individual needs. 

You don’t have to manage symptoms alone- our team is here to support you.

Book an appointment now using our online form or call us on (+44) 020 7191 2378.