How to Prevent a UTI When It's Hot Outside

There are two different burns you don’t want to feel during the summertime: a sunburn and the burning sensation that comes with a urinary tract infection, or UTI.  

UTIs are pesky, frustrating and often come with symptoms like needing to pee A LOT, even if not much comes out; pain in your pelvic region; and cloudy, foul-smelling pee.

These infections are caused by bacteria — most commonly E. coli, which can find its way from your intestines into your bladder.

UTIs are more common in women than men and occur more often during hotter months, which leads to a not-so-cute start to hot girl summer. There are a few reasons why this happens. 

Why UTIs are more common during the summer 

Zachary Annen, ARNP, a nurse practitioner at the UW Medicine Urology Clinic – Montlake who specializes in urology, says there are a few reasons why these uncomfortable symptoms might creep up more when it’s hot outside than during cooler months. 

“Hot weather leads to more sweating and often less hydration, which can reduce how often you urinate,” says Annen. “That gives bacteria more time to grow in the urinary tract. Plus, activities like staying in wet clothes or delaying bathroom trips while outdoors can raise the risk.”

Think about your favorite summer activities: Are you spending all day at the beach or the pool and then going for drinks with friends? Do you lounge outside your favorite coffee shop with an iced latte, but forget to drink water, too? That could contribute to a higher risk of getting a UTI.

“Swimming in non-chlorinated water, sitting in a wet swimsuit or long cycling sessions can all increase your risk by allowing bacteria to linger near the urethra,” Annen says.

How to prevent UTIs during the summer

Don’t worry, you don’t have to cancel your beach days — there are ways to enjoy time outside while lowering your UTI risk.

Stay hydrated 

First and foremost: drink water. Annen says staying hydrated is key to preventing a UTI, especially when it’s hot outside.

“Try to drink one to two liters of water daily unless your doctor advises otherwise,” says Annen.

Keep dry

If you’re planning to take a quick swim or exercise outside before running errands or spending the day around town, bring a change of clothes to help you stay clean and dry and not give any bacteria the chance to fester.

“Keep your genital area clean and dry and avoid staying in damp clothing,” says Annen.

Follow the basics

Other common UTI-prevention tips remain the same, such as making sure to pee after having sex, not using douches or scented soaps and wiping from front to back after using the bathroom.

Cranberry juice and supplements

For some people, drinking cranberry juice or using supplements like D-Mannose can also help prevent a UTI from developing.

“These can help reduce how often UTIs happen, especially for people who get them frequently,” says Annen. “Just be sure to choose 100% pure cranberry juice, not cranberry cocktail, which is high in sugar and unlikely to help.”

Low-dose antibiotics

If you’re getting multiple UTIs within a short time period, let your doctor know.

“If UTIs are a recurring problem, your doctor may recommend preventive steps like low-dose antibiotics,” says Annen.  

Think you might have a UTI?

Skip the cranberry juice if you already have UTI symptoms, and head straight to the doctor. These days, some online services make it easy to order antibiotics to treat UTIs, but even if you’re familiar with the infection’s tell-tale symptoms, avoid trying to treat it on your own before hearing what your doctor has to say.

“If you think you have a UTI, it’s important to get a urine test to identify the specific bacteria before starting treatment,” says Annen. “Taking antibiotics without a proper diagnosis or culture can lead to antibiotic resistance and won’t target the actual cause. Natural remedies like cranberry and D-Mannose work best as prevention, but not as a replacement for medical care." 

The takeaway? 

Sometimes, you can do all the right things to prevent a UTI and still get one, and if you do, that’s OK — but don’t try to tough it out, as it could lead to symptoms like a fever, chills and nausea, which could indicate a more serious infection in the bladder or kidneys. You deserve to be outside this summer, not in the emergency department, so remember to stay hydrated and give your body (and your nether regions) a little breathing room.