Warm weather means more UTIs. Here's how to prevent one

The temperature is rising, and the beach is calling. But alongside the best summertime activities come an unwanted increase in urinary tract infections (UTI).

In fact, warmer weather can increase your odds of a UTI by 20% to 30%. Beyond this time of year, 60% of women will develop a UTI in their lifetime, with menopausal women being particularly vulnerable. Symptoms include burning during urination, the increased need to urinate when you just went and urine that looks bloody, cloudy or has a foul odor.

Doctors say we can’t blame one specific factor that changes as things heat up. Instead, it’s the perfect storm of a changing environment that breeds bacteria.

Why warmer weather increases UTI risk

Temperatures spike, and you don’t realize you aren’t drinking as much as usual, so your body starts to get dehydrated. At the same time, increased moisture from sweat and wet bathing suits starts to cause bacteria overgrowth, says Dr. Unwanaobong Nseyo, urogynecologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and New-York Presbyterian in New York. 

In addition, bacteria all over the body increase with warmer temperatures, she says, and summertime activities might even cause you to hold your pee too long. Don’t skip that bathroom visit even on a long flight. Bladder holding also causes bacteria to grow.

How to prevent UTIs in warm weather

Luckily, with a few changes, you can offset that increase in UTIs and hopefully lower your odds of getting an infection, Nseyo says. Here’s what she recommends.

• Avoid tight clothes. Tight or synthetic clothing can increase bacterial growth on the skin, including in areas that promote UTIs, due to additional sweating. Opt for something looser and more breathable.
• Stay hydrated. Temper the warmer weather and increased sweating by drinking more.
• Go to the bathroom at the first urge. Summer isn’t a good time to hold your pee. Go when you first feel the urge. Summer might mean more boating outings or pool trips where bathrooms aren’t as easy to access, but it’s worth going often.
• Eat some cranberries. Nseyo says cranberries are shown to help with UTI prevention. The active ingredient, proanthocyanidins, prevents UTIs by counteracting bacteria. 
• Remove wet clothes promptly. Wet clothing doesn’t cause UTIs, but staying in wet clothing, which breeds more moisture and bacteria, does. So, remove your wet suit after swimming, or your gym clothes after a sweaty workout, rather than hanging out in them all day. 

Nseyo notes there are plenty of unsupported myths around what causes UTIs, so stick to these tips. If you want to prioritize one behavior over the others, she adds: “Staying well hydrated is the single most important thing that someone can do to protect themselves from a UTI, particularly during the warmer summer months.”