UTIs are more common during the summer due to factors like dehydration, travel, and increased exposure to moisture.
- You can help prevent summer UTIs by drinking enough fluids, using the bathroom regularly, changing out of wet swimsuits or clothing, and choosing loose-fitting, breathable underwear.
- UTIs are typically treated with antibiotics such as Amoxicillin, Macrobid, Cipro, and Bactrim. Leaving a UTI untreated may allow the infection to spread and become more serious.
A urinary tract infection (UTI) happens when bacteria enter and spread through any part of the urinary system, including the bladder, urethra, ureters, and kidneys. While UTIs can occur at any time of the year, research shows they become more common during the summer months. Women, in particular, may have a higher risk during warmer weather. A study published in the Journal of Urology found that UTI rates among women in the U.S. increased by 20% to 30% after a week of temperatures reaching 77 to 86 degrees.
Why Summer Can Increase Your UTI Risk
UTIs are more common during the summer due to a combination of heat-related factors, explains Kecia Gaither, a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology and Associate Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Weill Cornell Medicine.
The most common causes include:
1. Dehydration
Warm weather can make dehydration more likely because your body loses extra fluids through sweating. If you don’t drink enough water to replace those lost fluids, dehydration can occur. Dr. Gaither explains that reduced fluid intake leads to more concentrated urine, which may create an environment where bacteria can grow more easily. Dehydration can also cause you to urinate less often, limiting your body’s natural ability to flush bacteria from the urinary tract.
2. Summer travel
Summer vacations can sometimes bring an unexpected problem: an increased risk of UTIs. Changes in your normal routine, especially during travel, can contribute to this.
During road trips or flights, many people delay using the bathroom to avoid making stops or using public restrooms. However, holding urine for long periods can make it harder for your body to flush out bacteria from the urinary tract.
According to Jason B. Carter, regularly emptying your bladder is one of the body’s simplest ways to help prevent infections. Maintaining healthy bathroom habits while traveling can help lower your risk of developing a UTI.
3. Staying in Wet Clothing for Too Long
Most people are exposed to higher levels of moisture in the summertime. The weather is hot, humid, and sweat-inducing, plus we spend more time swimming in pools, lakes, and oceans.
All that moisture can quickly lead to infection, however. Lounging around in a damp swimsuit or staying in sweaty clothes after a workout increases your exposure to moisture around your genital area, says Dr. Gaither. This moist environment encourages bacteria to thrive and ultimately increases your risk for UTI.
Why are women at higher risk for UTI?
Women are more likely to develop UTIs than men due to two main factors: anatomy and hormonal changes, according to Dr. Carter.
Women have shorter urethras, which means bacteria have a shorter path to travel before reaching the bladder. The urethra is also located closer to the rectum, where bacteria like Escherichia coli (E. coli) naturally live. While E. coli normally plays a helpful role in the digestive system, it can cause an infection if it spreads to the urinary tract.
Hormonal changes can also increase UTI risk, especially after menopause. As estrogen levels decline, the natural protective bacteria in the urinary tract may change, making infections more likely in women as they get older.
| Summer trigger | Why it raises UTI risk | How to counter it |
|---|---|---|
| Dehydration | More concentrated urine can encourage bacterial growth. | Make sure to drink plenty of water during the day, especially when the weather is hot. |
| Summer travel | When you wait too long to use the bathroom, your body has fewer chances to flush out bacteria naturally. | Take scheduled bathroom breaks while traveling and avoid delaying urination when restroom access is available. |
| Moisture exposure | Moisture from wet or sweaty clothing can create an environment where bacteria grow more easily. | Don’t stay in wet swimsuits or sweaty clothes for too long—change into dry clothing when you can. |
Most UTIs begin with common symptoms such as:
- A burning or painful feeling when urinating
- Needing to urinate more often
- A sudden or urgent need to urinate
- Cloudy, dark, or strong-smelling urine
- Pelvic discomfort or pressure
While many UTIs are easily treated, some infections can spread from the bladder to the kidneys and become more serious. If a kidney infection is left untreated, bacteria can enter the bloodstream and potentially lead to a life-threatening condition. This risk is higher among older adults, people with diabetes, or those with weakened immune systems.
It can sometimes be difficult to tell when a UTI has become more severe. According to Dr. Carter, a fever is one of the most important warning signs to watch for.
Seek medical attention if UTI symptoms occur alongside fever, chills, pain in the back or side below the ribs, nausea, vomiting, or a feeling of being significantly unwell. These may be signs that the infection has progressed and requires prompt treatment.
How to prevent a UTI this summer
Although UTIs are more common in the summer, that doesn’t mean they’re unavoidable. Here are some ways to prevent infections in warm weather.
- Stay hydrated. Drink fluids regularly throughout the day instead of waiting until you feel thirsty. Pale yellow urine is often a sign that you’re getting enough fluids.
- Use the bathroom regularly. Avoid holding your urine for long periods, and always wipe from front to back to help prevent bacteria from spreading to the urethra.
- Change out of wet clothing quickly. Remove wet swimsuits, damp underwear, or sweaty clothes as soon as possible to reduce moisture buildup.
- Wear breathable clothing. Loose-fitting underwear made from breathable fabrics, such as cotton, can help prevent the warm, moist conditions where bacteria may grow.
- Urinate after sexual activity. This can help flush out bacteria that may have entered the urinary tract.
- Avoid harsh feminine products. Scented soaps, douches, sprays, powders, and bubble baths may irritate sensitive areas and disrupt the natural balance of protective bacteria. Use warm water or a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser when needed.
- Consider cranberry supplements. Some people find that taking cranberry supplements regularly may help reduce the frequency of UTIs.
- Talk to a healthcare provider about recurring UTIs. If you experience UTIs every summer or have frequent infections, a medical professional can help identify possible causes and recommend prevention strategies.
How to treat summer UTIs
Because almost all UTIs are bacterial, you typically need to take antibiotics to treat one. This is especially true for UTIs causing symptoms like burning, urinary urgency, frequent urination, pelvic discomfort, and cloudy or foul-smelling urine, says Dr. Gaither.
If you’re experiencing UTI symptoms at home, reach out to your usual healthcare provider for treatment. If you’re traveling, consider using a telehealth platform through your employer or insurance provider to get fast, remote care; if that’s not an option, check your area for urgent care centers close by.
There are several antibiotics used to treat UTIs, including amoxicillin, Cipro, Keflex, Levaquin, and Macrobid. Some antibiotics have been shown to be especially effective for women, including Macrobid, Bactrim, and Monurol.
While you wait for your antibiotics to take effect, you can get faster relief from your UTI symptoms with over-the-counter (OTC) medications found in most local pharmacies. Pain relievers like Tylenol and NSAIDs (Motrin, Aleve, and aspirin) may reduce some of your urinary and pelvic pain. There are also numbing medications like phenazopyridine, available as a prescription and OTC drug, which soothe pain and burning in the urinary tract for a few hours at a time.
| Drug name | Price without insurance | SingleCare price | Savings options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amoxicillin | $19 for 21, 500 mg capsules | $3 for 21, 500 mg capsules at Walmart | See latest prices |
| Cipro (ciprofloxacin) | $114 for 14, 500 mg tablets | $8 for 14, 500 mg tablets at Walmart | See latest prices |
| Keflex (cephalexin) | $46 for 28, 500 mg capsules | $8 for 28, 500 mg capsules at Walmart | See latest prices |
| Levaquin (levofloxacin) | $168 for 10, 500 mg tablets | $8 for 10, 500 mg tablets at Kroger | See latest prices |
| Macrobid (nitrofurantoin) | $92 for 10, 100 mg capsules | $6 for 10, 100 mg capsules at Kroger | See latest prices |
| Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim) | $61 for 30, 400-80 mg tablets of Bactrim | $8 for 30, 400-80 mg tablets of Bactrim at Kroger | See latest prices |
| Monurol (fosfomycin) | $142 per 1, 3 gm packet | $28 per 1, 3 gm packet at Walmart | See latest prices |
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
If you are generally healthy and experiencing only mild UTI symptoms, you may be able to manage them at home and potentially avoid antibiotics. However, a “wait and see” approach should only be done with guidance from a healthcare provider, as untreated UTIs can sometimes spread to the kidneys and become more serious.
Certain groups should seek treatment right away because they have a higher risk of complications. According to Dr. Gaither, this includes people with weakened immune systems, pregnant individuals, those with upcoming urology procedures, people with kidney disease, diabetes, or older adults.
Even if you are not considered high-risk, it’s important to know when home care is no longer enough. Contact a healthcare provider if your symptoms last longer than two days, worsen, or return after improving. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience fever, chills, back or side pain, blood in your urine, nausea, or vomiting, as these may be signs of a kidney infection requiring urgent care.
Expert takeaway
If you are prescribed antibiotics for a UTI, it’s important to complete the full course exactly as directed, even if your symptoms improve. Stopping treatment too early may allow the infection to return, become more severe, or make future infections harder to treat.