Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder caused by bacteria that get there. In women, cystitis is much more common than in men. The reasons for this are, first of all, in the fact that women have a shorter urethra, which allows parasites to enter the bladder faster . The length of the female urethra is only 2.8-5.6 cm, and the male urethra is 10 to 18 cm. In addition, the entrance to the urethra in women is located in close proximity to the vagina and anus, so bacteria that are usually found in this area they easily penetrate the urethra, causing cystitis, the causes of which may be inadequate personal hygiene, unprotected sexual contact.
The disease is manifested by painful urination, which become frequent. Urine comes out in small portions, becomes cloudy, sometimes with an admixture of blood.
If you have such symptoms, as well as high fever, chills, pain in the lower abdomen and lower back, you should definitely consult a doctor who will take the urine for analysis in order to detect bacteria and white blood cells in it. They indicate an inflammatory process in the urinary tract, always accompanying cystitis, the causes of which can also be clarified after the examination. During pregnancy, a woman is more susceptible to infectious diseases of the urinary tract due to hormonal changes and weakening of the muscular wall of the bladder. In time, undetected cystitis can lead to premature birth, so during this period you need to carefully consider such symptoms.
Since the causes of cystitis in women are often associated with sexual life, this disease can be prevented if you follow the recommendations for safe sex. Then you can protect yourself from diseases that can affect the urinary tract. Before and after intercourse, it is also advisable to wash the genitals with warm water in the direction from front to back. Try to urinate more often to remove bacteria, preventing their reproduction, this helps to remove bacteria that have entered the urethra after intercourse.
Urinary tract diseases, such as cystitis, which are caused by an infection, are treated fairly quickly with antibiotics. But you can’t take them yourself, these drugs are prescribed only by a doctor.
Drinking plenty of fluids is also recommended to flush out bacteria that have invaded the bladder and reduce burning sensation. Cranberry juice has a very good diuretic and some anti-inflammatory effect, although this means only additional therapy, it cannot completely destroy pathogens. During the acute stage of the disease, especially if the temperature has risen, it is best to adhere to bed rest or gentle treatment. Try to keep your legs and pelvic organs warm, if you have cystitis, the reasons for its sharp occurrence often consist in hypothermia and a decrease in human immunity.
Very often, cystitis after recovery appears in a person again and again. Especially if you do not take preventive measures, then it will most likely resume. But if you do everything right, and the disease persists, then in your urinary tract there may be some kind of anomaly that interferes with the free flow of urine. Incomplete emptying creates favorable conditions for the colonization of bacteria and from reproduction. Cystitis can also have relapses if you do not follow the rules for taking the antibiotic prescribed by your doctor (dosage, frequency of administration and duration of the course), which contributes to the preservation of bacteria in the urinary tract.