What you need to know about the prevention and treatment of cystitis

What it is

Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder. It can be caused by bacteria, allergies to the ingredients in your shower gel, radiation therapy, and certain chemotherapy drugs (cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide).

But the main culprit for bacterial cystitis is E. coli, which accounts for 75 to 95% of cases. If you do not follow the rules of hygiene, it can enter the bladder and begin to multiply on its mucous membrane, damaging it and provoking inflammation.

During the illness, the following symptoms occur:

pulls the lower abdomen;
I constantly want to go to the toilet;
urination is painful and does not bring relief;
urine becomes cloudy and dark, acquires a strong unpleasant odor, sometimes blood appears in it.

Who can get sick

Any person can get cystitis if he does not follow the rules of personal hygiene: the immune system cannot cope with the bacteria that have entered the bladder, and inflammation begins. However, women get sick more often than men.

The reason is in the structural features of the body: the female urethra is short and wide, and its outer opening is located close to the natural sources of infection - the anus and vagina.

Menopause and pregnancy also increase the risk: due to hormonal changes, the balance of microflora is disturbed and local immunity is reduced. This means that the body is less resistant to infection. According to a study by the University of Michigan, one in three women experiences cystitis by the age of 24.

Since the most common cause of this disease is infection, it can arise from neglect of the rules of hygiene. Therefore, you need to change your linen more often and take a shower on time. It is also especially important for women to keep their period clean by changing your pads or tampons as often as possible. For example, after each visit to the toilet.

Another risk factor is sex. There is even a separate type of cystitis that occurs after intercourse. It is called postcoital. During sex, bacteria enter the urethra, and mechanical irritation of the bladder and urethra contributes to the development of inflammation.

Also, cystitis can occur against the background of various diseases (diabetes, urolithiasis, enlarged prostate) or due to the presence of a urinary catheter.

But you can't earn a disease just by sitting on a cold floor. This myth arose because cystitis is often confused with cold diuresis, which has similar symptoms. However, sitting in the cold is still not worth it.

How to treat a disease

If you are faced with cystitis, do not self-medicate, but consult a doctor - only he will be able to prescribe the necessary drugs. But before that, the specialist will ask you to take tests.

A general urine test will show if there is an inflammatory process in the bladder. If so, you will be prescribed antibiotics. If the prescribed treatment did not help, the doctor will conduct a bacteriological analysis, which will indicate which microorganisms caused the disease, and further treatment will be prescribed taking into account these data.

A few days after you start drinking antibiotics, the pain and constant urge to use the toilet will go away. The following methods can also help relieve symptoms:

Take ibuprofen nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain. Use them strictly according to the instructions.
Drink plenty of clean water. This will help flush the bacteria out of the bladder faster.
Refrain from sex during treatment. It increases the risk of infection and can negate all efforts.

Do not delay going to the doctor. Any delay can lead to complications - pyelonephritis. It is an inflammatory kidney disease that is accompanied by fever, vomiting, and severe pain in the side.

What to do to prevent cystitis

Keep your genitals clean. Change your underwear at least once a day and shower regularly - especially before sex - to wash away germs. For intimate hygiene, use only special products without fragrance that do not violate the natural microflora.
Wear loose-fitting underwear made from natural materials. It does not irritate the skin and does not interfere with normal blood circulation. Impaired circulation reduces immunity, which means that bacteria multiply faster in the body.
Treat gynecological diseases and sexually transmitted infections right away. They can also cause cystitis: bacteria easily pass from the vagina to the urethra.
Drink plenty of water. If you go to the toilet regularly, you are less likely to develop an infection as bacteria are removed with urine.
Don't put off going to the bathroom after sex. Doctors say urinating will help flush out potentially harmful bacteria.