Navigating Menopause and UTIs

The mid-years of a woman’s life are often seen as a transition period, with many women having to navigate a shift in roles or responsibilities as well as the challenges of ageing and the hormonal changes that come with menopause – including being more susceptible to urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Most women will experience menopause symptoms at some point, whether it’s in the years leading up to menopause (peri-menopause) or after they have reached menopause (post-menopause). Menopause can be experienced by women in different ways, with symptoms varying in nature and severity.

Common menopause symptoms include:

• Hot flushes and night sweats
• Problems sleeping and tiredness
• Headaches
• Aches and pains
• Mood changes.

Up to 50% of women may also experience urinary and vaginal (urogenital) symptoms linked to menopause, which may include:

• Vaginal issues – such as dryness, irritation, burning or itching in the tissues in and around the vagina and pain when having sex
• Urinary problems – such as urgently having to urinate, having to urinate more often, pain when urinating and having more frequent UTIs.

Find out more about the causes of UTIs

A recent on-line survey of 1096 women found that menopause can have an effect on the UTI symptoms you experience.1   For example, the survey found that women going through menopause were more likely to have the following symptoms compared to pre-menopausal women:

• Have to urinate more frequently
• Have new or worsening incontinence
• Need to wake up in the night to urinate more frequently.
  

Find out more about the symptoms of UTIs

UTIs during and after menopause

Menopause – which on average happens around the age of 51 years – is the term used to describe the point in a woman’s life when they have not had a period for 12 months. 

Women go through menopause when the natural production of the female sex hormones (oestrogen and progesterone) decline. This may occur naturally with age when the ovaries run out of eggs or prematurely (early-menopause) when the ovaries have been surgically removed or after the ovaries stop working for some reason (for example as a result of a health problem or certain medical treatments).

This decline in hormones leads to different menopause symptoms and the changes to the vagina and urinary system are largely due to the falling levels of oestrogen.

How does menopause affect the urinary tract?

• Low levels of oestrogen in the body may weaken the muscle cells in your bladder and urethra  (the tube that carries urine out of your body) as well as your pelvic floor muscles affecting how well they work.
• Low oestrogen levels can also affect the pH of the vagina. The naturally acidic vagina becomes more alkaline and upsets its natural balance of healthy bacteria – increasing the likelihood of infections by bacteria that can cause UTIs or other infection.
• Structural changes in the genital area can leave sensitive tissues open to chafing and irritation, which may then lead to problems such as pain when urinating and infections.

How does menopause affect the immune system?

• Declining levels of oestrogen and progesterone during and after menopause can affect how the body’s natural defences (the immune system) work and make women more susceptible to infections.

When should I see a doctor?

Menopause is a natural process all women will go through, but its symptoms can vary.

It is a good idea to talk to your doctor if:

• You are worried about irregular or heavy periods, or any usual bleeding
• You are concerned about any of your symptoms or they are affecting your daily life – your doctor will be able to advise you on the best treatment for you.

If you think you have a UTI it is important to consult your doctor or a pharmacist as soon as possible. If left untreated, UTIs can lead to serious complications such as kidney infections.

How can I prevent UTIs during and after menopause?

There are things you can try that may help you find relief from painful UTI symptoms or help prevent UTIs recurring, including:

• Drinking lots of liquids (especially water) helps dilute your urine and flush out bacteria
• Taking a urine alkaliniser – such as Ural Effervescent Powders –, makes your urine less acidic and helps provide relief from the painful, burning symptoms of UTIs
• Cranberry juice or supplement – such as Ural Daily Supplement High Strength Cranberry Capsules may help support your day-to-day urinary tract health.
• Taking Uramet regularly may help if repeated UTIs are a problem. This non-antibiotic tablet contains the active ingredient methenamine hippurate and is used to help suppress bacteria in urine and helps prevent recurrent UTIs.

If you have problems with recurrent UTIs linked to low hormone levels, your doctor might suggest using a locally applied (intra-vaginal) oestrogen product, which typically come in the form of a cream or pessary.

When using incontinence pads or pants, remember to change them regularly as this will also help to reduce the risk of a UTI. 

Always check with your doctor or pharmacist for any possible interactions with any medications you are taking before taking any Ural or Uramet products.

Learn more about preventing UTIs