Causes and symptoms of cystitis in women

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Published: 08/07/2020

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• The first signs of cystitis: Pain when urinating
• Frequent urge to go to the toilet

The first signs of cystitis

Cystitis can be acute or chronic. In acute cystitis, the symptoms of the disease occur acutely and disappear quickly with proper treatment.

Important! Timely and adequate treatment of acute cystitis is the most important principle for preventing chronicity of the disease and the occurrence of complications.

The chronic process occurs with periods of exacerbation of symptoms and remission, when nothing bothers the patient.

The main signs of cystitis include the following:

• frequent urge to urinate. Urine is released in small quantities. Frequent urge to urinate significantly disrupts the patient’s normal functioning;
• at the end of the act of urination, the patient feels cutting pain in the urethra. You may also experience pain in the lower abdomen and back, perineum, genitals or rectum;

• symptoms of intoxication of the body are mild, which are manifested by an increase in body temperature to low numbers of 37-38 ° C or with a body temperature of 40 ° C, chills, increased sweating, rapid heartbeat, when inflammation spreads to the kidneys;
• leukocytes and red blood cells appear in large quantities in the urine, bacterial bodies, epithelial cells and uric acid crystals accumulate. Urine may have an unpleasant, purulent odor;
• with a long course of the disease, structural changes develop in the muscular apparatus of the bladder, which lead to disruption of the closing function of the urethral sphincter, as a result of which a small amount of urine leaks.

Pain when urinating

The person feels discomfort that was not there before. Such pain cannot yet be called clearly expressed, but very soon it will gain strength. Usually, no more than a week passes from mild discomfort to severe pain when urinating, because under favorable conditions, bacteria on the walls of the bladder develop extremely quickly.

Frequent urge to go to the toilet

The desire to urinate appears more and more frequently. The patient may associate this with the amount of contents drunk or with a reaction to any food or drink. Very soon, an increased urge to urinate will disrupt the natural rhythm of a person’s life.

How to avoid cystitis: 7 rules of behavior for women

Cystitis, or inflammation of the bladder mucosa, is a very common disease.
Women, due to the structural features of the genitourinary system, suffer from it approximately four times more often than men. The main risk group includes representatives of the fair sex aged 20 to 45 years. Cystitis is a disease of bacterial origin and can have an acute or chronic course. The second option is dangerous not only due to frequent relapses, which seriously reduce the quality of life, but also the development of severe pathologies of the kidneys and urinary tract. The symptoms of cystitis are difficult to confuse with something else: in women it is accompanied by severe pain at the beginning and end of urination, pain in the pubic area and in the perineum, frequent urge to urinate (especially at night), increased temperature, and deterioration of the general condition. The urine becomes cloudy, pus and traces of blood appear in it. With timely access to a specialist, the woman is successfully cured, but if the immune system is weakened, the disease can cause relapses and extremely unpleasant complications.

No one is immune from a disease such as cystitis, but the risk of its development can be minimized.

Reasons for the development of the disease

To prevent cystitis, you need to understand why it starts. This pathology is based on an inflammatory process, which is infectious or non-infectious in nature.

Infectious cystitis occurs due to the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the bladder. By multiplying in it, they provoke the development of the disease. There are a number of reasons for this:

1. The presence of acute or chronic inflammation of the genital organs in women. Even ordinary vaginal candidiasis or thrush can cause cystitis. Sexually transmitted diseases also lead to its development.
2. Hypothermia. Each organism has its own opportunistic microflora, which, in normal health, does not cause any pathological processes. Once a person gets cold, his immunity decreases. As a result, opportunistic microorganisms acquire negative properties, which causes the development of the disease.
3. Bacteria can enter the bladder from foci of inflammation located in other parts of the body. In this case, the route of infection is hematogenous or lymphogenous.
4. There is a special type of this disease, which is popularly called “honeymoon cystitis.” It occurs after unprotected sexual intercourse, especially if it occurs for the first time in both partners. Also, having sex during menstruation predisposes to the development of this pathology.
5. Cystitis is often one of the first signs of an “interesting situation.” In pregnant women, under the influence of hormones, the immune system is suppressed. This is how nature intended, because initially the unborn child is foreign genetic material for the mother’s body.
6. Taking medications that suppress ovulation or emergency contraception. This leads to disruption of the natural hormonal levels of the female body. The result of this is a decrease in the activity of the immune system and increased susceptibility to various infections.

Non-infectious cystitis develops due to exposure to unfavorable factors on the body. This also causes the development of an inflammatory process in the bladder. These include:

1. Urolithiasis disease. Stones located in the lumen of the bladder have an irritating effect on its intima. Over time, this leads to the development of inflammation in it.
2. Radiation therapy for malignant neoplasms or taking antitumor drugs. These aggressive types of exposure have a destructive effect not only on the tissue affected by metastases, but also on the mucous membranes of all organs.
3. Abuse of alcohol, fatty and spicy foods.
4. Traumatic damage to the intima of the bladder during endoscopic manipulations or diagnostic procedures.
5. Prostatic hypertrophy in older men. An enlarged prostate prevents the free passage of urine, causing it to stagnate in the bladder. With prolonged contact with his intima, urine has an irritating effect on it.
6. Menopause period in women. At this stage of life, the function of the reproductive organs fades and hormonal levels change. Under the influence of hormones, atrophic processes are triggered in the female body, especially in the mucous membranes.

Cystitis from sitting for a long time

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• Parasites
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• Prostate cancer
• Urethritis
• Ureaplasmosis
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• Cystitis

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People have been doing work in a sitting position lately. The work takes almost the whole day. As a result, they develop chronic kidney disease. The risk of developing pathologies has now increased by 30 percent. Sedentary work causes pelvic disorders, which leads to the formation of kidney stones. In some cases, the body’s water-salt metabolism is disrupted, and cystitis forms. Mostly women suffer from diseases of the genitourinary system. They spend little time on physical activity and active movements.

A sedentary lifestyle has a negative effect on internal organs. Inactivity especially affects the genitourinary system and leads to the formation of cystitis. The pelvic muscles begin to weaken, causing the bladder to contract. The result is the appearance of accumulated fluid, and sharp pain occurs in the lower abdomen. Women should pay attention to periodic warm-ups, go out into the fresh air and take a short walk. It is useful to walk long distances and travel outside the city on weekends.

Otherwise, sedentary work provokes stagnation of blood in the veins of the pelvis. Swelling of internal organs occurs. Inflammatory processes occur in the bladder and tissues. Bacteria and infections multiply in the genitourinary system, and cystitis forms. Every day people's health is getting worse. Sharp pain occurs when urinating. While working in a sitting position, all internal organs stagnate and natural blood flow is disrupted. Over time, cystitis becomes a chronic form of the disease, which requires immediate contact with a specialist for medical help.

Chronic cystitis begins instantly. Almost a few days after prolonged sedentary work. The main symptoms of the disease are:

1. A sharp increase in the inflammatory process, which is accompanied by urinary retention with regular incontinence.
2. Increased number of urinations. Basically, the urge occurs every 40 minutes.
3. Acute pain in the urinary passage.
4. Painful going to the toilet.
5. Aching pain in the lower abdomen and lower back.
6. Attacks of urination with a small volume of urine.
7. Change in the natural color of the liquid. In rare cases, the urine is cloudy or contains blood particles.

In chronic forms of the disease, a sharp increase in temperature, nausea, and bouts of vomiting are observed. If you have these symptoms, you should contact a specialist. A urologist treats cystitis of any severity. In rare cases, elevated temperature is not the cause of inflammation in the bladder. In advanced forms of the disease, the natural functioning of the kidneys is disrupted. If your general condition worsens, you should undergo a comprehensive examination at a medical facility.

An effective result depends on the correct treatment by the doctor. It is recommended to remain in bed for several days. Be sure to use a strict diet based on soups, cereals, and dairy dishes. The patient should use a warm bath and use anti-inflammatory painkillers. Intimacy should be limited until complete recovery. It is worth drinking warm drinks in large quantities. They help flush out pathogenic microbes from the body.

Treatment takes place exclusively under the supervision of a doctor. Therapy with antibacterial drugs helps restore the microflora of the whole body. The drugs remove infection from the vagina and contribute to the patient’s rapid recovery. Antibiotics should be used to suppress the active action of microbes. The specialist prescribes medications according to the patient’s individual tolerance. To eliminate pain, take anti-inflammatory drugs. They have a positive effect on the immune system and eliminate inflammatory processes.

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The May holidays are a traditional time for outings, picnics and barbecues in the fresh air. But even if the weather is favorable and the sun is warming with all its might, the earth has not yet had time to warm up properly. You sit for a while on a log, a boulder, or even just on a blanket, and you’re done – by the evening you’re already running to the toilet every five minutes. It’s painful, unpleasant and very painful: this, alas, is cystitis, a frequent and completely unexpected end to a good rest.

Scientifically, cystitis is nothing more than inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bladder. Very often it is further complicated by urethritis, that is, the inflammatory process spreads to the urethra. And unfortunately, hypothermia, although the most common, is far from the only cause of the development of this disease.

It is no secret that statistically cystitis is much less common in men than in women. This is due to the peculiarities of the anatomical structure: the female urethra is shorter and wider than the male urethra, this is the best “entry gate” for infection. However, the likelihood of getting this disease exists in people of both sexes, regardless of age. The causes of cystitis may be:

— hypothermia of the legs and pelvic area; - injuries to the mucous membrane of the urethra and bladder; - sedentary work, sedentary leisure time; - predominance of fatty and spicy foods in the diet; - chronic diseases of the genital organs, foci of infection in the body; - unprotected or prolonged sex; - neglect of personal hygiene rules.

As already noted, hypothermia is the most common cause of cystitis. You are at risk if you are very cold at a bus stop, sit on cold ground or stones, like to push yourself in the cold in thin tights without warm underwear or a miniskirt, wear shoes that are out of season, or swim in cool water.

We advise you to read: What food is best for cats with cystitis

Prolonged sitting position causes blood stagnation. You also risk getting cystitis if you sit continuously for four or more hours, you need to get up and move more often for at least 10-15 minutes.

The presence of chronic gynecological diseases creates the preconditions for the spread of infection to the bladder and urethra; sexually transmitted diseases can also be complicated by cystitis. In some cases, hormonal disorders and even vitamin deficiencies can cause cystitis.

Prolonged presence of urine in the bladder due to incomplete emptying or long breaks between urinations leads to its decomposition and significant microbial contamination, which can also trigger the development of cystitis.

And quite often, unfortunately, cystitis is caused by non-compliance with basic rules of personal hygiene: irregular water procedures, rare changes of pads and sanitary tampons, constant use of panty liners and wearing synthetic underwear. It’s not very convenient to talk about this, but most often the causative agent of cystitis is a common E. coli: if after defecation you wipe from the anus forward, the chances of getting cystitis increase significantly.

According to the nature of the disease, acute and chronic cystitis are distinguished. Acute cystitis develops suddenly due to the reasons listed above and is characterized by well-defined symptoms: painful frequent urination with burning and cutting, severe pain in the lower abdomen, sometimes signs of urinary incontinence, turbidity (sometimes mixed with blood), a feeling of a full bladder, a general increase in body temperature . Chronic cystitis is more often a consequence of other diseases, it has a slightly different clinical picture, the signs of the disease are more blurred, and during the period of partial remission they may be completely absent.

It is also customary to distinguish between primary and secondary cystitis, bacterial and non-bacterial in origin. With primary cystitis, the inflammatory process begins to develop in the bladder; secondary cystitis occurs against the background of other diseases of the bladder and pelvic organs (prostate adenoma, urolithiasis and others).

In addition to the mentioned E. coli, bacterial cystitis can be caused by strepto- and staphylococci, gonococci and many other representatives of pathogenic microflora. The infection can be introduced by the blood or lymph flow, have an ascending (that is, rise through the urethra into the bladder) or descending nature (for example, when with pyelonephritis, the infection descends through the ureters into the bladder). Non-bacterial cystitis is a response of the mucous membrane to any irritant; there are medicinal, thermal, toxic, allergic, radiation and food (alimentary) cystitis.

For the treatment of acute primary cystitis, specialized antibiotics, antispasmodic drugs (tablets or suppositories), herbs and preparations with diuretic and antibacterial effects are prescribed. To avoid the transition of cystitis to a chronic form, its treatment must be approached extremely responsibly and scrupulously: follow all instructions, in no case interrupt the course of antibiotics, it is advisable to keep bed rest and drink plenty of warm drinks, adhere to a diet (exclude spicy, salty, marinades and spices). To reduce pain, you can place a warm heating pad on the lower abdomen, but remember that this is contraindicated for women with uterine fibroids or fibroids.

Infusions of lingonberry and bearberry leaves, kidney tea, Pol-Pala herb, cranberry and lingonberry juice are very useful for cystitis. You can use ready-made medicines based on medicinal plant raw materials (Canephron, Urolesan, Cyston, Fitolysin). Warm baths with chamomile infusion give a good effect.

In folk medicine, the following mixture is used to treat cystitis: the herbs of thyme, parsley, knotweed, dill and St. John's wort are mixed in equal parts, 1 teaspoon of the resulting mixture is poured into a glass of boiling water and left for 30 minutes, then filtered and squeezed. Take half a glass of this infusion 3 times a day for 20 days, after a ten-day break the course is repeated (three times in total).

The procedure of steaming legs in milk was once popular. To do this, 3 liters of milk were brought to a boil, cooled a little and a large mug was poured into a basin, where the patient, wrapped in a blanket underneath, put his feet. As the milk cooled, the next mug of hot milk was added to the basin until the milk “for refills” ran out. After this I had to go straight to bed.

A quick improvement in well-being with cystitis was given by a handful of cornflower flowers, which was poured with 300 ml of boiling water and left for half an hour. Half of the infusion was drunk at night, the rest in the morning.

To protect yourself from this extremely unpleasant disease, follow these simple precautions:

- try, if possible, to avoid hypothermia, do not sit in the cold - take a folding chair “out into nature”; - never swim in unfamiliar bodies of water, especially with standing water; - do not neglect personal hygiene; — promptly and completely cure infectious diseases and do not trigger inflammatory processes; - do not wear synthetic underwear all the time; - when working sedentarily, take a break every half hour or hour, walk around, and warm up; - if you are predisposed, try not to overuse spicy, salty, fatty foods.

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I treated cystitis for many years and thought that I knew everything about it. I tried so many different antibiotics, drank herbs, but was never completely cured. And I still couldn’t understand what was the matter, why everything was returning to normal. That was until I came across an experienced and intelligent doctor who explained simple truths to me.

Firstly, he categorically forbade me to wear tight underwear and clothes. And he ordered me to keep my lower body and lower back warm. I always tried to take care of myself and not sit on cold stones, but I didn’t think that tight clothes could have such a bad effect on my health. Because blood circulation is disrupted, the inflammation does not completely go away. It’s so simple, but I didn’t think of it myself.

The doctor also asked me if I worked and what kind of work I had. And I got a job as a watchman a long time ago. The work is daily, which suits me, but I have to sit in one place for a long time. As it turns out, sitting for a long time can also worsen cystitis. For the same reason as from tight clothes. Therefore, I began to get up from my workplace every hour and do a little gymnastics. Several bends, lifting on your toes and rolling onto your heels. Sometimes I twist my neck, I always rotate my pelvis. This immediately improves blood circulation and prevents cystitis.

Changes also had to be made to the diet. I stopped eating salty and fried foods, and I almost eliminated spicy and fatty foods too. She also started drinking a lot, especially cranberry juice. I had already been treated with cranberries before, but I didn’t drink them for long.

And now I decided to drink it for 2 weeks in order to properly deal with the microbes in the bladder. I drank 3 glasses of fruit drink a day and an additional 2-3 glasses of water. I prepared melt water: I put a pan of water in the freezer, and when the first ice appeared, I threw it away.

Then she froze the rest of the water, and threw out the part that didn’t freeze. I defrosted all the frozen water I received in the room and tried to drink it quickly while it was fresh. After switching to drinking melt water, even my skin and complexion became much better.

I also applied copper coins to the bladder area every day. I glued them with a plaster, tied them with a scarf and walked for several hours or left them overnight. Every day I washed the coins and the next day I repeated the honey therapy session. You can put coins not only on your stomach, but also on your sacrum. Then the effect will be even greater. Many people do not believe in such treatment. Even my husband laughed at me. And in my opinion, this is the best remedy for any inflammation. My grandmother (and I am already a grandmother) used copper to treat a lot of things and said that her mother taught her to do this.

This approach - from all sides at the same time - protected me from cystitis, and the disease has never returned.

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From cranberry juice to Kegel exercises

Text: Natalia Zakuraeva

60% of women over adolescence have had cystitis at least once in their lives, and every tenth woman over eighteen years old has it every year. After the first episode, in 25-50% of cases, cystitis returns within a year, and in 3-5% of women the infections will recur longer. Fortunately, most often acute infections of the lower urinary tract occur without complications and respond well to treatment without posing a threat to life. Nevertheless, this condition is extremely unpleasant. Let's figure out why not everyone gets cystitis, why it comes back and what to do to get rid of it.

It is not difficult to suspect cystitis without the help of a doctor: its symptoms are unlikely to be confused with anything. An unbearable desire to pee, an emergency search for the nearest toilet, a rush into the stall - and the bladder, which signaled that it urgently needs to be emptied, produces only a couple of drops of urine. The pain is as if thousands of nails and pins are rushing out. The picture is complemented by a burning sensation when urinating successfully, continued false urges, a feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen, and discomfort in the pelvic area. Sometimes visible changes in urine are added: it becomes reddish or cloudy, and acquires an atypical pungent odor. The situation is common: 26 million such episodes happen in Russia a year, that is, more than 70 thousand a day - and these are only cases in which women consulted a doctor; in reality, the figure may be higher.

It is worth defining the terms: in the English-language medical literature they usually talk about urinary tract infections, and not about cystitis or urethritis separately. This is justified, since the symptoms of inflammation of the urethra (urethra) and bladder are almost the same, and it is very difficult to catch the moment when urethritis becomes cystitis. Most often, the inflammation does not spread above the bladder, so we can talk about a lower urinary tract infection - in contrast to diseases of the upper tract, in which inflammation affects the ureters and kidneys.

We advise you to read: Can your hip hurt with cystitis?

The causative agent of acute cystitis in 70-90% of cases is Escherichia coli, in 5-15% - Staphylococcus aureus. Less commonly detected are enterococcal infections, Proteus extraordinaire (as the name of the microorganism Proteus mirabilis is translated from Latin), and Klebsiella. In theory, after treatment with properly selected antibiotics, the infection should recede and the condition should return to normal. But in practice, everything is much more complicated: many factors influence whether cystitis occurs and how quickly you can get rid of it.

Let's start with bacteria: E. coli, also known as Escherichia coli, lives in the lower intestines of healthy people. Due to continuous mutations, some strains of these bacteria have acquired villi or flagella that allow them to penetrate new habitats - essentially proteins that can attach to the cells lining the urethra and bladder. In addition, the microorganism has learned to form a biofilm - an entire community of bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics and immune system cells.

Cystitis can occur without a bacterial infection - in this case, there is no point in antibiotics. There is, for example, so-called interstitial cystitis, the causes of which are still not completely clear. It manifests itself as long-term inflammation of the bladder and pelvic pain, affects mainly women, and no infection is detected. Cystitis can also occur under the influence of chemicals - for example, in the composition of foam or bath bombs, hygiene sprays or gels, spermicidal tablets or jelly. These substances trigger an allergic-like reaction in the urethra; Inflammation of the urethra and then the bladder develops.

Sex is always a risk factor: 60% of all urinary tract infections occur after sexual intercourse. If you have sex more than three times a week, your risk of a urinary tract infection is three times higher than if you have no sex.

Sometimes cystitis occurs when taking certain medications, for example, to treat systemic lupus erythematosus or glomerulonephritis. Foreign body cystitis is an inflammation that develops, for example, due to an installed catheter. In general good health, cystitis is unpleasant but not dangerous, but during pregnancy, in women with diabetes or kidney stones, in the presence of anatomical abnormalities or suppressed immune function, the disease is no longer considered harmless: inflammation can “rise” and cause damage to kidney tissue.

Yet the most common case is ordinary bacterial cystitis. It occurs more often in women than in men, due to the peculiarities of the anatomy: a short and wide urethra facilitates easy penetration of infectious agents into the bladder. But there are other factors due to which some women do not have cystitis at all, while others suffer from it all the time.

Contrary to popular belief, sitting in the cold does not cause cystitis, and the main predisposing factor is sexual activity. Acute inflammation of the bladder often occurs for the first time after the start of sexual activity - the term “honeymoon cystitis” was even coined for this. Triggers are mechanical irritation of the urethra, changes in the tone of the pelvic floor muscles, stagnation of blood in the lower third of the urethra, which increases the risk of injury. Sometimes factors combine, enhancing each other's influence.

Sex is always a risk factor: 60% of all urinary tract infections are postcoital, that is, they occur after sexual intercourse. If you have sex more than three times a week, the risk of a urinary tract infection is three times higher than if you have no sex. Using spermicides for contraception is also not the best option: their active components reduce the number of beneficial lactobacilli and change the pH of the vagina, allowing bacteria to penetrate the urethra.

Hormonal balance plays a significant role: there is evidence that in 10–15% of women, cystitis occurs a week before menstruation. Due to changes in estrogen levels, a certain type of white blood cell (mast cells) in the bladder releases substances that promote inflammation. Estrogens also influence the formation of a protective layer of mucopolysaccharides on the surface of the epithelium, which prevents the attachment of bacteria; few estrogens - few substances to counteract infection.

What you definitely shouldn’t do is enter “traditional methods for treating cystitis” into the search engine. Despite the fact that some of these methods helped women a hundred or more years ago, they have not yet been studied and are sometimes dangerous

Another risk factor is disruption of the vaginal ecosystem; for example, taking antibiotics can cause fungal growth and the appearance of thrush, and after using antifungal drugs, the newly shifted balance can provoke recurrent cystitis. Sometimes it is caused by the candida fungus, which causes thrush. In addition, stress increases vulnerability to bladder inflammation; emotional stress activates the production of one of the hormones of the hypothalamus (corticoliberin) and the release of biologically active substances responsible for inflammation. Stress has been shown to increase your susceptibility to bladder inflammation.

Another important point is congenital anatomical anomalies. If the urethral outlet is located low, that is, close to the vagina, during sex the urethra can gape and become an entry point for bacteria. A similar situation occurs with increased mobility of the urethra, when it moves towards the vagina in certain body positions. Finally, heredity also influences resistance to cystitis. The inside of the urinary tract is lined with a layer of cells that produce protective substances (proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans) that prevent cell penetration. If there is a genetic defect in the synthesis of these substances, then bacteria penetrate the tissue faster and provoke inflammation.

Most often, the cause of cystitis is a bacterial infection, and to cure it, you need to destroy the pathogens. Ideally, you need to donate urine for culture on a nutrient medium and determine the sensitivity of the pathogen to antibiotics - this will help to understand which bacteria are the cause and what antibiotic is needed. True, with the classic picture of cystitis, treatment is often prescribed without tests. The Russian Society of Urology believes that the right choice is a single dose of three grams of fosfomycin trometamol (this drug is sold in a single-dose package). In principle, this option can be chosen if you find cystitis in a place where you can’t get to a doctor quickly - but after returning, it’s better to see a specialist.

The American Urological Association has issued guidelines to help your doctor choose the right antibiotic, dose, and duration of therapy. On some points, these recommendations differ slightly from European ones, but in general they are similar. If inflammation recurs, long-term antibiotic therapy may be recommended, up to six months or even up to a year - of course, such treatment can only be carried out by a specialist who will take into account a variety of factors. And if cystitis occurs after sexual intercourse, then the optimal tactic may be prophylactic use of antibiotics within two hours after sex - this is a more gentle method in relation to the microflora of the intestines and vagina than long-term prophylactic use of antibiotics.

Sometimes an inexplicable situation arises: there are symptoms of cystitis, the urine test is sterile, but a course of antibiotics helps quite well. A possible answer is that there are bacteria, but not enough to form a visible colony.

In addition to antibiotics, the doctor may recommend normalizing the tone of the pelvic floor muscles (Kegel exercises are suitable for this) and determining the level of estrogen: if it is low, the doctor may prescribe replacement therapy. Since spermicides are also known to cause cystitis, a change in contraceptive method may be necessary to prevent recurrent inflammation. Also, at the appointment, the gynecologist can determine the location of the urethra and give recommendations on what positions are best to avoid during sex so as not to injure it. In case of a pronounced anomaly, if other options do not help get rid of cystitis, an operation is performed - surgical relocation of the urethra to its typical place.

There is no clear evidence yet about the effectiveness of cranberry juice in preventing recurrent infections. Components in cranberries have been reported to disrupt the attachment of E. coli to the cells lining the bladder; However, the dosages of juice in this study were quite large and even caused nausea in many participants. Another method with insufficient evidence is the advice to urinate immediately after sex to mechanically flush away bacteria from the urethra. Although it is impossible to say exactly how effective it is, this method is definitely safe and simple, so there is no need to ignore it if you are prone to cystitis.

New means of preventing cystitis include D-mannose - this substance has demonstrated the ability to prevent relapses if taken in a six-month course. D-mannose is found in citrus fruits and acts similarly to cranberry flavonoids - it disrupts the attachment of bacteria to the cells of the urinary tract. There are no large clinical studies on this topic yet, and D-mannose is used in veterinary medicine to help cats, horses and dogs, and is offered to people in the form of dietary supplements. Perhaps after more careful study it will be registered as a medicine.

It is worth knowing about the warning signs, in which you should not delay a visit to a specialist (urologist or nephrologist). These include red urine, pain in the back or sides of the abdomen, high fever, nausea or vomiting. Such symptoms may indicate more serious problems, such as pyelonephritis.

What you definitely shouldn’t do is enter “traditional methods for treating cystitis” into the search engine. Despite the fact that some of these methods helped women a hundred or more years ago, they have still not been studied and are sometimes dangerous. For example, advice to sit on a bucket of red-hot bricks or take steam baths with the addition of alcohol can lead to serious burns to the delicate mucous membranes of the genital organs. Taking “healing” herbs can also be dangerous: plants do contain active ingredients, but their dose cannot be controlled, so side effects can be unpredictable.

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What should a patient do at the first signs of cystitis?

It’s great that the patient paid attention to his condition and promptly identified the changes occurring in his body. This provides great opportunities for a successful and complete cure in a short time. Unfortunately, this happens extremely rarely; most people ignore the first unpleasant symptoms, considering work, household chores and other concerns to be much more important than their own health.

What to do when cystitis begins? The best solution is to see a doctor. The patient’s well-being will determine whether he needs an ambulance or is able to go to the hospital on his own and visit a specialist. Actually, this is where independent steps should end, because the patient is now completely left to the urologist, whose professional knowledge will help the patient return to normal life.

Which doctor should I contact?

Every person should know how cystitis begins, so that if alarming symptoms appear, consult a doctor. This seemingly harmless disease can cause more serious health problems. Therefore, it should be treated by a specialist.

At the initial stage of the disease, you can go to a local clinic at your place of residence, see a local therapist, who will refer you for the necessary examinations, and then, based on their results, prescribe appropriate therapy. In case of severe cystitis or when complications develop, treatment is carried out by a urologist in a hospital setting.

General signs of the disease

Symptoms of cystitis in women are divided into two broad syndromes: intoxication and dysuria.

Dysuric manifests itself in the form of pain when visiting the toilet, frequent, scanty urine discharge. In some cases, urinary incontinence occurs during physical activity, laughing or coughing.

In addition, changes in the composition and macroscopic properties of urine are noted. The color of urine may change, which is caused by the presence of leukocytes, pus, and bacteria in it.

Intoxication syndrome includes increased body temperature, deterioration of condition and well-being.

In some women, the symptoms are not pronounced, which will indicate problems with the immune system, since an increase in temperature is the body’s reaction to the entry of a pathogen.

First aid

Cystitis is most often caused by infections. And like any similar disease, it requires qualified medical care. But, if there is no opportunity to apply for it in the next couple of days or even a few hours, then you need to take action yourself. We are not talking about full-fledged therapy, which is impossible at home without prior agreement with a specialist. A girl can alleviate her condition somewhat in safe and simple ways. They will help her with this:

• Peace . It is important to postpone all business and travel. Lie down in a warm bed, dim the lights and loud sounds - these actions will set the body up to fight the disease. No need to be a hero. The inflammatory process can cause negative consequences and taking it lightly is dangerous.
• Drinking regime . It is an adjuvant therapy. Pure water, natural juices, fruit drinks, compotes and herbal infusions wash away toxins, which are products of the vital activity of microorganisms. Due to this, pain is reduced and overall well-being improves. Pathogenic microflora can no longer multiply as actively due to the normalization of urine outflow. Also, water and healing drinks saturate cells with useful substances.
• Ethnoscience . Sitz baths with chamomile, St. John's wort, sage and other herbs known for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory properties are first aid, approved by doctors.
• Enhanced hygiene measures . Along with urine, a large number of microbes come out of the urethra, which can remain on the genitals. During treatment, it is recommended to shower more often and change underwear.
• Diet . Avoid salty, spicy, smoked and other foods that can irritate the mucous membranes. Give preference to fresh vegetables, fruits, cereal soups, cereals, and dairy products.

Medicines and cystitis

Both treatment and prevention of cystitis can be carried out with the help of medications.

Antibiotics (furazidine, nitroxoline) are used in treatment; as a rule, a three-day course is enough for recovery.

Prevention is best carried out using natural-based preparations (with extracts of centaury, rosemary, lingonberry leaf, lovage root and proanthocanidins - active components found in cranberries). To prevent cystitis, instead of taking medications, you can take a course of decoctions of the listed herbs, which have antibactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as a vitamin complex to strengthen the immune system.

What to do with cystitis if it is impossible to see a doctor

The first symptoms of cystitis can begin at any time of the day, in different localities, where it is not always possible to see a doctor quickly. What actions can be taken now? If for some reason it is impossible to get advice from a specialist, you can try home methods to alleviate the situation. All of them are aimed at improving the patient’s well-being, because severe pain can lead to painful shock with more serious consequences. So what can you do at home?

Warm bath or heating pad

To relieve severe pain, heat is necessary on the genitourinary area. For this, the patient can be placed in a bath of warm water for 15 minutes. By the way, if you add a strong decoction of chamomile flowers to it, the water will receive additional properties - bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, softening and regenerative. You can also simply apply a heating pad wrapped in a towel or diaper to the lumbar area. The room in which the patient is located should also maintain a comfortable warm temperature. If you don’t have a heating pad or a bath at home, you can heat salt or sand in a frying pan, wrap it in a cloth and apply it like that to the lower abdomen.

Take a lying position

Now it is necessary to observe bed rest and complete physical rest. If possible, call relatives or friends who will monitor the patient, prepare medicinal drinks and generally monitor changes in the condition.

What should a patient with severe pain do for cystitis? Take a tablet of No-shpa, analgin, Ibuprofen or any other pain reliever. Even paracetamol, which is usually included in cold remedies, will be useful now.

Severe pain should never be tolerated! Even if the doctor must come any minute and taking analgesics will interfere with his diagnosis, in difficult situations such actions may be justified.

More fluid

The patient must now drink as much fluid as possible. You should not drink cold water, because of which another spasm in the stomach may occur and the pain will reappear. It is better to replace plain water with weakly brewed green tea, diluted apple juice, or cranberry juice. If possible, you can prepare special healing teas that have a diuretic effect. During the day you need to drink about 2.5-3 liters of liquid. This is necessary so that urine in the bladder does not stagnate and quickly removes bacteria and their breakdown products. This point is especially important for patients whose symptoms of incipient cystitis include an increase in body temperature, which indicates possible intoxication of the body.

Diet

The diet now should be as gentle as possible. No fried, pickled or smoked foods. In this state, it is generally difficult for the patient to eat, and if the appetite is reduced, there is no need to force him to eat. What does the patient need during this period? He can get the necessary glucose from juices and fruit drinks, and a small amount of fat and protein from a boiled egg, a piece of bread and cheese.

Refusal of sexual intercourse

Actually, severe pain with cystitis usually blocks intimate desire, but if it does arise, it is better to refrain from such contacts for now. The fact is that sex, even with a condom, increases blood flow to the pelvic organs. They can be compared to physical activity, which can aggravate the course of the disease.

Prevention is the key to women's health

The main measure to prevent chronic cystitis is to drink enough water (about two liters per day) to literally “flush” the genitourinary system and remove bacteria.

Green tea, watermelon, horsetail and bearberry decoction also have diuretic properties.

Sympaty.net will not remind you that it is necessary to protect the body from hypothermia, especially its lower part, and also not to wait for a long time if you want to go to the toilet.

Maintaining good hygiene is extremely important to prevent the occurrence of germs in the genitourinary area. Experts recommend taking a shower after using the toilet, changing hygiene products more often during menstruation (every 2-3 hours), and not taking frequent baths (especially using chemical foams or gels).

For intimate hygiene, it is best to use a special gel containing lactic acid, and the perineum should be washed from front to back to prevent bacteria from entering the urethral area. If you like to use a variety of intimate hygiene products, we recommend reading about their pros and cons in a separate article on “Beautiful and Successful”.

After using the toilet, use soft, dye-free toilet paper.

Clothes should not be tight and put pressure on the bladder area, and underwear should be made from natural materials.

Basics of therapy

Treatment methods for cystitis come down to a comprehensive selection of measures aimed at eliminating unpleasant signs of pathology. Doctors prescribe the following remedies for home therapy:

• antibacterial drugs;
• agents that regulate kidney function and improve diuresis;
• medications that increase immunity and the body’s resistance to the influence of the pathogen;
• antispasmodics and antipyretics;
• herbal remedies.

In addition to the above, it is necessary to maintain a diet and maintain a drinking regime. Treatment at home is carried out for both acute and chronic forms of the inflammatory process. Only in particularly severe cases does the patient require hospitalization. Women love to complement therapy with non-traditional methods. This is possible, but the main thing is to first agree on your treatment methods with your doctor. It must be remembered that home remedies for cystitis cannot be called a replacement for traditional treatment. Techniques can only complement it, which will enhance the result and speed up the recovery time. Unconventional recipes can help urgently relieve pain, but they will not eliminate the cause of the pathological process.

Taking antibiotics

After visiting a doctor, a specialist will explain what to do if you have cystitis. In most cases, therapy begins with taking antimicrobial drugs. However, the choice of medication should be approached with caution. Any antibiotic should not be used. To treat inflammation of the bladder, special agents are used that are effective against the causative agents of this disease. The most commonly prescribed drugs are:

1. Monural - the medicine is prescribed only once at the very beginning of cystitis. The drug is highly effective in the acute form of the pathology, which is only gaining momentum. The medicine destroys all pathogenic microorganisms living in the bladder. In the chronic form of the disease, you should not take Monural on your own, since a one-time dose of an antibacterial drug in this case is not enough.
2. Normax, Nolitsin, Norbactin are similar drugs available for the first symptoms of exacerbation of cystitis in women. These drugs belong to the heavy artillery and are used in cases where other methods of treatment are ineffective. Use 2 times a day, 1 tablet for 3-5 days.
3. Nitroxoline - helps well with ascending cystitis, when not only the bladder is affected, but also the urethra, urinary ducts and kidneys. Take 2 tablets every 6 hours for two weeks.
4. Palin - will help the patient if the pathogens are sensitive to pipemidic acid. This can be determined using a preliminary bacteriological examination of urine. Take 1 tablet every 8 hours for 10 days.

Symptoms

Chronic cystitis begins instantly. Almost a few days after prolonged sedentary work. The main symptoms of the disease are:

1. A sharp increase in the inflammatory process, which is accompanied by urinary retention with regular incontinence.
2. Increased number of urinations. Basically, the urge occurs every 40 minutes.
3. Acute pain in the urinary passage.
4. Painful going to the toilet.
5. Aching pain in the lower abdomen and lower back.
6. Attacks of urination with a small volume of urine.
7. Change in the natural color of the liquid. In rare cases, the urine is cloudy or contains blood particles.

In chronic forms of the disease, a sharp increase in temperature, nausea, and bouts of vomiting are observed. If you have these symptoms, you should contact a specialist. A urologist treats cystitis of any severity. In rare cases, elevated temperature is not the cause of inflammation in the bladder. In advanced forms of the disease, the natural functioning of the kidneys is disrupted. If your general condition worsens, you should undergo a comprehensive examination at a medical facility.

What rules should you follow for cystitis?

What should you do at home if cystitis appears? In any case, it is better to seek medical help. But it is not always possible to immediately visit a doctor, so many women are concerned about what can be done at home if this disease strikes.

Initially, you should not forget about these rules:

Bed rest for cystitis

1. If cystitis worsens, it is recommended to adhere to bed rest. You can also use a heating pad, which is applied to the lower abdomen.
2. If this disease occurs, you should drink plenty of fluids. But this does not apply to beer and coffee; these drinks should be excluded from your nutrition menu. Fruit drinks made from blueberries and lingonberries are of great benefit. This is due to the fact that these drinks contain substances that prevent harmful microorganisms from attaching to the bladder. It is useful to drink a decoction of birch buds or nettles. Such medicinal drinks can be drunk at home, but it is most effective to use herbal teas. They are sold in pharmacies in ready-made form.
3. It is not necessary to use herbal preparations. Canephron tablets or Spazmocystenal drops may be suitable for this. Phytolysin paste is also effective in the fight against cystitis.
4. If you have cystitis, you need to follow a certain diet. Patients need to forget about preservatives, marinades, and spices. It is better to add dairy products, fruits, and vegetables to the nutrition menu.
5. If this disease appears, then you should forget about visiting the bathhouse for a while. At home, you can wash yourself with warm water, to which special products are added. This method reduces the discomfort that appears during bladder emptying.
6. Quite often, urologists prescribe natural remedies to patients when cystitis occurs. For example, it could be Uroprofit. This drug destroys microbes, relieves inflammation and spasms. It contains concentrated natural substances that normalize urination; after using the product, the kidneys and the entire genitourinary system work better. With this medicine you can protect yourself from exacerbations of cystitis.
7. If women experience severe pain, then you can take No-shpa or another similar remedy.

Treatment of cystitis with folk remedies

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Many, many people have been helped by folk remedies in the treatment of cystitis. Let's look at some of them.

Warming up

Before warming up, it will be good if you steam your legs, and then, after wrapping yourself up, apply a heating pad to the bladder area.

Salt. Heat table salt in a frying pan and pour into a sock. Apply it like a heating pad to your lower abdomen and crawl under the blanket.

Buckwheat, millet, rice. Do the same as with salt.

Water bottle. Fill a plastic bottle with hot water, apply it to your lower abdomen and wrap yourself up.

The warming process should be pleasant, so if the heating pad is very hot, place a cloth under it.

Baths

With sea salt. Fill the bath with water and add sea salt.

With essential oils. Add 2 drops each of eucalyptus, sandalwood and juniper oils to the bath water and sit for 10 minutes.

Juniper essential oil is contraindicated during pregnancy.

With chamomile. Brew 3-4 tbsp in boiling water. spoons of chamomile and pour into a bowl, stirring with warm water. Sit in this bath until it cools down, but remember that the water should not be too hot. You can make the same bath with calendula or add calendula to chamomile.

With iodine. Fill a bowl of hot water and pour in some iodine. Sit over the bath for 10-15 minutes.

With milk. Heat the milk to such a state that you can sit in it, take it until it cools down.

Decoctions

Chamomile. Pour 1 tbsp. spoon of chamomile 1 glass of boiling water. Take 20 ml 3 times a day.

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St. John's wort. 1 tbsp. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over a spoonful of St. John's wort. Boil for 10-15 minutes and strain. Take 50 ml 3 times a day.

Sage. 1 tbsp. Pour a spoonful of medicinal sage into 1 cup of boiling water and boil for 30 minutes in a water bath. Cool and add hot water if necessary until you get 1 cup of liquid. Take 50 ml 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.

Lingonberry leaves. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 2 teaspoons of lingonberry leaves and boil for 10-15 minutes. Let the broth steep for at least 2 hours. Strain and take 100 ml 4 times a day before meals.

Yarrow. Brew 2 teaspoons of yarrow with 1 cup of boiling water. Let stand for 1 hour and strain. Take a quarter glass 4 times a day.

What happens if cystitis is not treated at the first sign?

In the absence of adequate treatment, acute cystitis becomes chronic, which relapses several times a year. Possible upward spread of infection to the kidneys, which leads to the development of acute pyelonephritis.

Its apostematous form is especially dangerous, when purulent foci-carbuncles form in the renal tissues. If this complication is not diagnosed in time and treatment is not started, the likelihood of developing sepsis and even death increases.

With the prolonged presence of stones in the bladder, bedsores form on its intima, which leads to damage to the deeper layers of its wall. Due to constant contact with urine, which is an aggressive environment, ulcerative defects occur. Over time, they may perforate and develop urinary peritonitis, which often leads to the death of patients.

Classification and types

Before you understand how to treat cystitis, you need to understand a number of factors:

• the nature of the disease (acute or chronic);
• where the inflammatory process occurs (mucous membrane, muscle layer);
• the presence of morphological changes (cysts, ulcers, tumors);
• what is the causative agent of the disease (allergic reactions, infection, viruses, candida fungi, etc.).

Only by finding out this can you correctly determine how to treat cystitis.

Acute cystitis

Acute inflammation of the bladder manifests itself in pronounced symptoms: severe pain in the lower abdomen, pain when urinating, frequent urge to go to the toilet, fever.

Treatment must be started at an early stage so that the disease does not become chronic. Cystitis that is not treated in time causes complications and negatively affects the functions of other organs.

First, the cause of the disease is determined. The patient is prescribed to drink plenty of fluids, take medications to combat microorganisms, and eat a diet that excludes alcohol and fatty foods.

The patient is prescribed antispasmodics; these can also be herbal preparations.

Chronic cystitis

Let's look at the symptoms of chronic cystitis and how to treat them. In this case, the signs of the disease are less pronounced: severe fatigue, slightly elevated body temperature, irritability. These are constant symptoms, but relapses of the disease occur.

The chronic stage of cystitis develops against the background of other diseases of the genitourinary system, as a consequence of an advanced form or complication of acute cystitis.

In this case, the medications no longer give the desired effect, because antibacterial drugs cause addiction to the body, and treatment is carried out only in a hospital.

In this case, an integrated approach is used to treat cystitis. First, the causes of the disease are eliminated. Sometimes, along with antibiotics, bladder lavage is also prescribed.

Ultrasonic bladder irrigation or infrared laser are often used to treat chronic cystitis.

The result is noticeable after the first procedure. This restores the organ and improves blood circulation.

What not to do with cystitis

When treating cystitis, you need to know what not to do. The list of prohibited actions includes:

1. Swimming (frequent hypothermia during bladder inflammation is contraindicated, and the water in the pool is usually cool);
2. Heavy strength training and exercise (they cause tension in the abdominal and pelvic muscles, which increases blood pressure);
3. Doing “cold” sports (playing hockey, skiing, sledding or skating - all this contributes to hypothermia, which a woman may not even notice);
4. Ride a bicycle or motorcycle (friction of the perineum promotes the transfer of intestinal microflora to the vagina and urethra, which provokes a new exacerbation of cystitis).

During treatment, it is necessary to take a break in all endeavors. Bed rest is recommended for several days until acute symptoms subside. In the future, you should lead a correct lifestyle and adhere to the basic rules for preventing bladder inflammation.

Mechanical irritation is a serious prerequisite for cystitis

A branch of the disease is postcoital cystitis, the prevention of which involves avoiding the use of spermytes, which disrupt the natural microflora of the vagina. In addition, this type of disease can occur due to mechanical trauma during sexual intercourse, which makes the walls of the vagina and urethra irritated and reduces the protective functions of this area.

Weak intimate muscles can also cause changes in the position of the bladder, which can cause cystitis. Therefore, it will be useful to at least occasionally devote time to wumbling. In addition, such exercises help stabilize hormonal levels.

Cystitis in a pregnant woman and during menopause

Inflammation of the bladder affects different age periods and has its own causes. The mucous membrane of the urogenital tract and its immune properties are especially sensitive to the level of sex hormones, so its changes lead to inflammation.

Cystitis in pregnant women occurs due to a combination of compression of the bladder, congestion, and decreased immunity. During menopause, hormonal levels change, the mucous membrane dries out, becomes thinner and becomes very susceptible to various infections.

The occurrence of cystitis and risk groups

The occurrence of the disease is influenced by a variety of factors, so the prevention of cystitis in women concerns many areas of life.

The main causative agent of the infection is E. coli, which penetrates the bladder mucosa and multiplies quickly in the urine.

Cystitis can be triggered by a previous flu or a severe cold. With a sedentary lifestyle, blood circulation in the pelvis is disrupted, which also contributes to the occurrence of cystitis.

Those who have recently undergone surgery on the genitourinary organs are at risk. Among the reasons are also reduced immunity (the impetus in this sense is hypothermia - even in summer, try not to get into heavy rain or sit on the ground), hormonal imbalance, as well as stagnation of urine (that is, incomplete emptying of the bladder).

Possible consequences

If left untreated, acute cystitis can become chronic. This form of pathology is difficult to treat, since the infection is located in the submucosal layer, where drugs and topical preparations do not penetrate. Chronicity causes scarring, which further impedes the flow of urine and promotes stagnation.

Cystitis is also complicated by the penetration of infection up and down. Pyelonephritis complicates the excretory activity of the kidneys, is dangerous due to high temperatures and the development of renal failure.

Urethritis can spread to the vagina and negatively affect reproductive function. Clinically characterized by mucous and purulent discharge on underwear.

Preventive measures

These tips will tell you how to deal with cystitis.

Prevention of acute cystitis includes:

1. Timely treatment of inflammatory processes.
2. Maintain personal hygiene.
3. Prevention of injuries to the genitourinary system.
4. Mandatory visit to the urologist every six months.
5. Controlling urination patterns.
6. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle (going to the gym, going for a morning jog, etc.)

Avoid hypothermia of the pelvic area and legs. To do this, dress warmly and do not wear silk tight underwear in the cold season.

How to prevent chronic disease:

• If there are signs of inflammation of the bladder, then first treat the acute phase of the disease
• Move more to improve blood circulation
• Avoid foods that irritate the genitourinary system: citrus juices, sparkling water, chocolate, mayonnaise, tomatoes and yogurt. It is also not recommended to consume spicy and fatty foods, canned food, alcohol, pickles and smoked foods.

And lastly, if you are hypothermic, it is better to immediately take a hot bath or just steam your feet; you should not wait for the symptoms of the disease.