Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder, most commonly caused by a bacterial bladder infection. However, it can also be caused by certain drugs or by an irritant such as catheter use or feminine hygiene sprays. It is generally not a dangerous illness and indeed is very common in women, though if it is serious or recurring, it can lead to more serious infection.
There are a few main symptoms to look out for. One of the most common is a need to urinate more often and more urgently than usual, especially if paired with only being able to pass a small amount of urine at a time. There may be pain, typically a burning or stinging sensation, when urinating, and the urine itself may be cloudy and have a strange smell. You should also look out for pain and discomfort low in the pelvis as well as a low fever and general feelings of being unwell.
It is not always necessary to go to the doctor with this condition as part of your treatment, as mild cases do generally clear themselves up. However, if it lasts more than a few days, or keeps recurring, you should see a doctor. Similarly, see your GP if you are pregnant and having symptoms, or if you find there is blood in your urine. The doctor can diagnose it with a test of a sample of your urine.
Regarding treatment, many people choose to treat the symptoms at home and wait for the condition to go away. Drinking lots of water, refraining from sex, and using a hot water bottle and over the counter painkillers to relieve discomfort are all goodd ideas. Some people use over the counter products like sodium bicarbonate to reduce the acidity of their urine, which anecdotally seems to help.
If you go to your GP with a bladder infection, they will usually prescribe you a course of antibiotics, which is good as they start to have results within one or two days. If you get cystitis often, a doctor will either give you a prescription that you can collect whenever you start to develop symptoms, or a low dose of antibiotics that are taken over a long time, which aims to stop you getting the condition at all. Some GPs have noticed that the problem can arise more frequently after sex, so will consider prescribing antibiotics to be taken after sex. You can discuss those options with your GP.
When you have got rid of the condition, it is a good idea to take precautions to prevent it from coming back. Avoid using perfumed products on or near your vagina, and wear breathable cotton underwear. Additionally, you should go to the toilet as soon as you feel the need, and empty your bladder after sex. You may also want to refrain from using a diaphragm as contraception, as this has been known to raise the likelihood of a bladder infection. All of these things will stop bacteria from building up in your bladder, causing an infection.
While cystitis is not a dangerous illness, it can be a frustrating one. However, if you follow the advice on treatment and prevention above, and learn what symptoms to watch out for, then you can mostly steer clear of this condition and treat it quickly and efficiently when it does arise.
