It turns out that we’re not imagining things: the experts agree that anecdotally there is a connection, as Dr Lakhani explains: “Lots of women report UTIs around the time of their period, and there are definitely factors which can contribute to this link, such as hormone imbalances, stress, sex and hygiene.”

Let’s break it down.

Hormones

Veerpal Kaur Sandhu, an advanced clinical pharmacist who runs NHS women’s health clinics, tells Stylist: “Hormones fluctuate during and immediately after menstruation, and oestrogen levels are at their lowest during your period. Oestrogen has anti-inflammatory properties, so when levels are lower, we might be more prone to catching a bladder infection. In addition, when oestrogen is scarce, the good bacteria found in the vagina are not able to survive, leaving ‘bad’ bacteria such as E. coli (which is normally present in small amounts) space to multiply, causing UTIs.”

Keep getting UTIs on your period? Experts explain why the two are often linked