. These bacteria are usually acquired during unprotected sex. There is a connection between reproductive health and urinary tract infections, but a UTI will never directly affect your menstrual period. Other common causes of irregular periods include: As the infection spreads to the cells of the uterus, it can lead to problems with menstruation. Anticoagulant drugs (blood-thinning medications) may cause heavy period bleeding. Vaginal discharge with an odor, painful urination or bleeding between periods can also be symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection (STI). One explanation for this cause of irregular periods is that shift work disrupts your body's circadian rhythm, which controls a variety of biological functions including your menstrual cycle. There is a relationship between UTIs and sexual health, but a UTI will never directly cause you to develop irregular periods, experience a late period, or miss a period all together. Does Your Uterus Really Get Bigger During Your Period? Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW Ending the Opioid Crisis - Mayo Clinic Press, FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to Fertility and Conception. Plus, the more your work schedule fluctuates, the more likely you are to experience problematic periods. Keep in mind that slight variations between cycles or in the duration of your period usually arent a cause for worry. Hormonal birth control: Birth control pills can treat heavy period bleeding caused by endometriosis, fibroids, and PCOS. Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle by exercising moderately and eating nutritious foods. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and other infections can cause irregular periods. Use birth control pills or other contraceptive methods as directed. "Bacterial infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, and sexually transmitted infections can cause the inside of your uterus to become inflamed and bleed," says Dr. Lara-Torre. Bacterial vaginosis. Illness A sudden, short illness like fever, cold, cough etc. Stress may be one of the most common reasons for a late period. Common symptoms of an infection that has spread to the heart include fatigue, fever, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and a heart murmur. information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with Contact your gynecologist if youre concerned about your menstrual cycle or if youre trying to get pregnant and have unpredictable periods (this can make getting pregnant difficult). In fact, the average cycle length is 29 days. Pain ranging from mild to severe in your lower abdomen and pelvis, Unusual or heavy vaginal discharge that may have an unpleasant odor, Unusual bleeding from the vagina, especially during or after sex, or between periods, Nausea and vomiting, with an inability to keep anything down, Fever, with a temperature higher than 101 F (38.3 C), Being sexually active and younger than 25 years old, Being in a sexual relationship with someone who has more than one sex partner, Douching regularly, which upsets the balance of good versus harmful bacteria in the vagina and might mask symptoms, Having a history of pelvic inflammatory disease or a sexually transmitted infection. Prompt treatment of an STI can help prevent PID. Stress. Having an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia can also cause irregular periods. Yikes. Like all tests, its not fool-proof, and intermenstrual bleeding should still prompt a visit to the doctor, even if you have had regular, normal smear tests. How to tell if its adenomyosis. She has practicedin a variety of settings including pediatrics, oncology, chronic pain, and public health. Getting BV while youre on your period is nothing to feel bad about. Infection can cause inflammation and bleeding. Yes: Menstrual irregularities can occur from a wide variety of systemic condition which alter the metabolism or hormonal levels, and this includes infection. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. While infertility can have symptoms like irregular periods or severe menstrual cramps, the truth is that most causes of infertility are silent. As the infection spreads to the cells of the uterus, it can lead to problems with menstruation. The good news: You can actually use your menstrual cycle to help you quit. Pelvic inflammatory disease. Other irregular periods include heavy or light bleeding, bleeding between periods, and painful periods. Common types of irregular periods include: Several possible causes of irregular periods include pregnancy, stress, uncontrolled diabetes, uterine cancer, and more. In other words, the hormonal changes around your period might bring upon BV, but there doesn't seem to be a link to that being the other way around. This website uses Facebook cookies to deliver advertisements to you when you are on Facebook or a digital platform powered by Facebook after visiting this website. Unusually heavy bleeding (soaking through a sanitary pad or tampon every hour for two to three hours) or passing large clots (larger than a quarter). PID occurs when the bacteria causing cervicitis travels up higher, into the womb, ovaries, or Fallopian tubes. Think: death of a family member, loss of your job, divorce, or illness. You should talk with your healthcare provider whenever you experience a significant change in your menstrual cycle. In addition to the medication that's prescribed for BV, many medical practitioners recommend switching to menstrual pads. 8 Science-Backed Home Remedies for Irregular Periods. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. Trauma to the cervix (the opening of the womb) can also cause intermenstrual bleeding this can occur during rough sex, following a medical procedure involving the cervix (from a smear test to a termination), or might even happen spontaneously if that person has an ectropion, when an area of cells usually found inside the cervix appears on the outside. Painful or irregular periods can be a sign of PID, a bacterial infection of the reproductive organs. Hormone disorders. Incubation period: - Unknown, but believed to be around 13-17 days. In other words, the hormonal changes around your period might bring upon BV, but there doesnt seem to be a link to that being the other way around. A high level of cortisol (known as the stress hormone) can alter the menstrual cycle and lead to irregular periods. Another preventative measurethat may help your vagina stay balanced throughout your cycle is to use our gynecologist-recommendedRestore Moisturizing Vaginal Gel. Can bacterial infection cause late period? They can cause bleeding outside of the period. Anemia or anaemia (British English) is a blood disorder in which the blood has a reduced ability to carry oxygen due to a lower than normal number of red blood cells, or a reduction in the amount of hemoglobin. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Vaginal bleeding is a common symptom of PID, and you are more likely to notice bleeding during or after sexual intercourse. Individuals going through perimenopause also commonly experience irregular periods. But, late periods can also be a common occurrence and do not always indicate a pregnancy. Exercise routines that result in very low body fat (long-distance runners, dancers or gymnasts). Bacterial vaginosis can often be instigated by hormonal changes, such as those that occur as a part of your menstrual cycle, since these hormonal changes can affect the overall acidity and bacterial balance inside the vagina. Again, it is tested for using a swab and is also treated with antibiotics. An overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism) thyroid gland and excess prolactin (hyperprolactinemia) can throw off your menstrual cycle. Accessed Jan. 13, 2020. Syphilis is caused by a bacterial organism called a spirochete, also known as Treponema pallidum in scientific terms. Infections like yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis can also cause . The infection may come back; therefore, some urologists recommend taking oral antibiotics for 6 to 8 . Again, it is tested for using a swab and is also . The hormone causes breasts to grow during puberty, stimulates the production of breastmilk after childbirth, and helps control the menstrual cycle. This is usually temporary and once you recover from the disease, your periods get regular. Often, the hormonal changes that occur before, during, and after your period can have an effect on the bacterial balance of your vagina. There are lots of STIs out there, with a huge variety of symptoms, or sometimes no symptoms at all. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. Read our. Chlamydia can infect the cervix, which causes cervicitis (an inflamed cervix), making the individual cells of the cervix irritated, red and swollen,4 and therefore more likely to bleed. As a result, your periods may become irregular or you may even skip them. In short, bleeding in between periods can occur for a huge variety of reasons. Progesterone rises at that time to maintain the endometrium. Estrogen causes the endometrium to thicken, and peaks at ovulation. Having a UTI does not delay your period. Sign and symptoms: Initial manifestation: -Sudden onset of fever and shaking/ chills. Vaginal or cervical infections can also be a reason for irregular periods. "Bacterial infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, and sexually transmitted infections can cause the inside of your uterus to become inflamed and bleed," says Dr. Lara-Torre. (For some women, that's a huge plus.) When bleeding after anal sex is normal, and when its not. However, you may develop the pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) if you do not seek treatment for bacterial vaginosis. Symptoms include all of those listed above for chlamydia, and also tummy pain, and pain during sex. Nutrients. Thrush is opportunistic, and often infects an area when the bodys defences are low this can be caused by anything from being on antibiotics which have wiped out all the good bacteria, to having chemotherapy which causes the immune system to function less well and increases the risk of infections. BV was assessed using Nugent scores. 2 doctor answers 9 doctors weighed in.