Pinkishe Foundation
25/10/2026
Medically reviewed by
Dr. Shehla Jamal
Your period does not cause a urinary tract infection (UTI) on its own. But some habits during your period can make an infection more likely, and some simple ones can help lower the risk.
A UTI happens when germs get into the urethra, the small tube that carries urine out of the body, and travel up to the bladder. Most of these germs come from the skin and the back passage. In girls and women the urethra is short and sits close to the vagina and the back passage, so germs reach it easily. This is why UTIs are common in girls and women. Getting one is not a sign that you are dirty.
During your period, a pad or cloth worn for too long stays warm and damp, and germs grow more easily in warm, damp places. Changing on time, washing the right way and drinking enough water all help.
Most UTIs affect the bladder. Common signs are:
If the infection travels up to the kidneys, it is more serious. Signs include fever, chills or shivering, pain in the back or side, feeling sick and vomiting. This needs a doctor the same day.
Some vaginal infections can also cause burning. A doctor can tell the difference, often with a simple urine test.
Change on light days too. A pad that looks fairly clean can still be damp. At school, college or work, carry a spare pad and a small paper bag to wrap the used one. Our period and ovulation calculator can help you know when to keep supplies ready.
Tampons, and very rarely menstrual cups, carry a small risk of a rare but serious illness called toxic shock syndrome (TSS). If you get a sudden high fever, vomiting, a rash like sunburn, or feel faint while using a tampon or cup, remove it and see a doctor at once.
Cloth pads are safe when they are cared for well. Wash them with soap and water, rinse well, and dry them fully in sunlight. In the monsoon, dry them in a well-aired place, and in the sun when it comes out. Never use a pad that is still damp. Keep clean pads in a clean, dry bag.
Wash your hands with soap before and after you change a pad, tampon or cup. Clean hands carry fewer germs to your body.
Wash the outer area once or twice a day with plain water, or with a mild, unscented soap if you prefer. Never wash inside the vagina. The vagina cleans itself, and washing inside can upset the good bacteria that protect it. Avoid douches, scented washes, sprays, powders and perfumed wipes. Pat the area dry with a clean towel or cloth.
After you use the toilet, wipe or wash from front to back. This keeps germs from the back passage away from the urethra. Teach young girls this habit early.
Cotton lets air in and keeps the area drier. Change your underwear every day, and sooner if it gets damp or stained. Loose, comfortable clothes help in hot and humid weather.
Drinking water through the day makes you pass urine more often, and this helps flush germs out of the bladder. A simple guide is to drink enough that your urine stays pale yellow. Buttermilk, coconut water and nimbu pani count too. Carry a water bottle to school, college or work.
Many girls avoid toilets at school during their periods because there is no water, no bin or no privacy. Holding urine for hours gives germs time to grow. Try to pass urine when you feel the need. If the toilets at your school or workplace are a problem, tell a teacher, a parent or your manager. It is a fair thing to ask for.
For women who are sexually active, passing urine soon after sex may help wash away germs that have moved near the urethra.
You may have heard that cranberry juice prevents UTIs. Studies give mixed results. It may help some women who get UTIs often, but it is not a treatment. If you have signs of a UTI, cranberry juice will not clear it, so please see a doctor.
Probiotics are "good bacteria" found in curd and in some supplements. Curd is a healthy food. But the evidence that probiotics prevent UTIs is limited, so do not rely on them.
A UTI is usually easy to treat when it is caught early. A doctor may test your urine and, if needed, give you antibiotics. Take the full course, even if you feel better in a day or two.
Do not take leftover antibiotics, or antibiotics bought from the chemist without a prescription. The wrong medicine, or too short a course, may not clear the infection. It can also make germs harder to treat next time. For pain, ask a doctor or pharmacist which painkiller is right for you, and keep drinking water while you get better.
If you have signs of a UTI, see a doctor soon. Go the same day if:
Also see a doctor if your signs do not get better with treatment, or if you get UTIs again and again.
Have a question about UTIs and period hygiene? Call our menstrual helpline on 85888 70999. It answers at any hour.
A simple printable sheet that marks your period days, your fertile window and your ovulation day. We will email it to you now.
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Prefer to work out your dates now? Open the free ovulation calculatorNot on its own. But a pad or cloth worn for too long stays warm and damp, which helps germs grow. Changing on time, washing the outside with plain water and wiping from front to back can help lower the risk.
Change a disposable or cloth pad every 4 to 6 hours, and sooner if it feels full or wet. Change a tampon every 4 to 8 hours, never more than 8. Empty a menstrual cup at least every 12 hours.
No. Wash only the outside with plain water or a mild, unscented soap. The vagina cleans itself. Washing inside, or using scented washes and douches, can upset its good bacteria and make infections more likely.
Not when they are cared for well. Wash cloth pads with soap, dry them fully in sunlight, and never use one that is still damp. Change them as often as a disposable pad.
No. Studies on cranberry give mixed results, and it is not a treatment. If you have burning or need to pass urine often, see a doctor.
Please do not. Leftover antibiotics, or ones bought without a prescription, may be the wrong medicine or too short a course. See a doctor, who may test your urine first.
UTIs are common in girls and women, and good period hygiene can help lower the risk. Change on time, wash only the outside, wipe from front to back, drink enough water and do not hold in urine. If you have signs of a UTI, see a doctor rather than treating it yourself.
Pinkishe Foundation is a specialist implementation organisation for menstrual health. We deliver, reliably, in schools and communities across India. Support our work with a donation.
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