Cystisis

Cystitis is a urinary tract infection (UTI) that affects most women at least once in their lives. It occurs when bacteria travel up your urethra, the tube you expel urine through, and infect your bladder. Men can get these annoying infections, too – but because of the anatomy of the female body, women are much more likely to get them.

• Symptoms of cystitis include:
• Pain or burning when urinating
• Cloudy or reddish urine
• A frequent urge to urinate
• A feeling of pressure above the pubic bone
• Causes: You are especially likely to get cystitis if:
• You’re pregnant.
• You’ve experienced menopause.
• You have diabetes.
• You have a kidney stone or other kidney problems.
• Prevention: Here are some steps you can take to help prevent cystitis:
• Drink plenty of fluids every day.
• Urinate when you need to – don’t put it off.
• After using the toilet, wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria around the anus from entering the urethra.
• Urinate before and after sexual intercourse to wash bacteria out of the urethra.
• Wear all-cotton or cotton-crotch underwear and avoid tight-fitting clothes.
• Don’t use bubble bath or harsh soaps – they can irritate your urethra and make you more prone to infection.
• Treatment:
  Cystitis is treated with a simple course of antibiotics – most sufferers begin to feel better almost immediately after starting treatment. Because the infection can easily reach your kidneys, it’s important to see your doctor as soon as you suspect you’ve got cystitis.
• Recurring Cystitis
  Some women have recurrent problems with cystitis – talk with your doctor about this if you get more than three infections each year. If you have recurring cystitis, your doctor may order extra tests to make sure there’s no underlying kidney disorder that’s causing or contributing to the problem.