Contents
What is cystitis
Cystitis in women is an inflammation of the bladder that occurs when bacteria, as well as viruses and fungi, enter it. In women, cystitis occurs 6-8 times more often than in men, due to the peculiarities of the anatomy.
Useful information about cystitis in women
| Temperature in cysts | usually does not increase |
| Frequent urination | Yes |
| Urinary incontinence | often |
| Burning when urinating | Yes |
| How are they treated | antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, diuretics |
| Who heals | urologist |
Causes of cystitis in women
Cystitis is one of the most common diseases of the female genitourinary system. Every second woman faced this unpleasant disease at least once.
It’s all about the special structure of the female genitourinary system – the urethra (urethra) in women is short (only about 3-4 centimeters) and straight, and is also located next to the rectum. Therefore, it is very easy for E. coli and other pathogenic bacteria to enter the urethra and reach the bladder, causing inflammation.
Very often, inflammation of the bladder can be a consequence of hypothermia, so it is highly recommended that women wear thin pantyhose and short skirts in winter, as well as sit on cold benches, stones, and cold ground.
Also, cystitis in women can occur as a result of an inflammatory process in the genital organs caused by various pathogenic microorganisms, such as E. coli, gonococci, chlamydia, etc.
– If you often change sexual partners, do not protect yourself during sex, like to wear tight synthetic underwear, neglect the rules of personal hygiene – you are at risk for cystitis, explains urologist Ivan Kuvin. – Also, cystitis in women often occurs with a lack of vitamins, a decrease in overall immunity, with overwork or stress. Diabetes mellitus, neurogenic dysfunction of the bladder, accompanied by incomplete emptying of the bladder, can provoke cystitis with severe symptoms, and then you can not do without medical help.
Symptoms of cystitis in women
Symptoms of cystitis in women are usually severe and very unpleasant.
- Rapid urination.
- Urination in small portions, constant urge to urinate, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder.
- Frequent urge to urinate at night.
- Pain and burning during urination in the urethra (may radiate to the back or perineum).
- Turbid urine with an admixture of blood.
- In acute cystitis, the temperature may rise, chills and malaise may occur.
– Pronounced symptoms are usually found in acute cystitis. If at this moment it is not treated or, having started treatment, interrupt it, as many do, having received the cherished improvement in general well-being already on the 2nd day of treatment, then cystitis can easily become chronic. Then his symptoms will be muffled, but it is chronic cystitis that can provoke serious complications, especially if the infection migrates through the ureters to the kidneys, causing pyelonephritis, the urologist explains.
Diagnostics
Having discovered unpleasant symptoms in herself, a woman should in no case make a diagnosis for herself and even more self-medicate, so as not to treat serious complications later. It is necessary to immediately consult a doctor – a urologist (he, in turn, can send for a consultation with a gynecologist).
Diagnosis of cystitis in women usually includes:
- A general blood test (will show if there is inflammation in the body, allows you to evaluate the color, density of urine, the presence of salts, protein, bacteria, etc. in it).
- In some cases, it is necessary to perform a urine culture in order to choose the right antibiotic that is right for you to treat cystitis.
- If cystitis in women is caused by inflammatory diseases of the genital tract, then the gynecologist will send the woman for analysis for sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhea, chlamydia, bacterial vaginosis, ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis, candidiasis, trichomoniasis).
- The urologist can send an ultrasound of the bladder and kidneys, which will assess the shape, size and condition of the organ, assess the condition of the surrounding tissues, and determine the presence of pathology.
– Sometimes, acute cystitis is accompanied by the release of blood in the urine. In this case, when performing an ultrasound of the bladder, it is imperative to exclude tumor-like formations in the bladder, if detected, the urologist will perform a cystoscopy with a biopsy. During this procedure, a thin tube with a video camera is inserted into the bladder, and a small piece of the bladder wall is plucked off and sent for histological examination. If a tumor process is present, it can be detected at an early stage, when it can still be successfully treated, the specialist says.
Treatment of cystitis in women
As a rule, timely treatment of cystitis in women allows you to get rid of discomfort, pain and frequent urination within a few days (no longer than a week). With severe pain, fever and malaise, it is better to lie down for at least 2-3 days or to exclude physical activity as much as possible.
Any form of cystitis needs antibiotic therapy, and which one is decided by the doctor, so home treatment of cystitis may not be effective. Currently, pharmacies offer many different forms of drugs aimed at treating cystitis.
However, if it is impossible to promptly seek medical help, the antibacterial powder Monural is the first aid drug. If you want to quickly cure cystitis at home, you can drink it at night, after emptying your bladder.
– Also, to suppress the acute symptoms of cystitis in women at home, you can use medicinal herbs. You can brew herbal teas yourself, herbal teas – lingonberry leaf, field horsetail, bearberry. And for convenience, you can choose drugs in the form of tablets based on these herbs – Cyston, Canephron, Fitolizin. Usually they are used in complex therapy, they relieve discomfort well, says the urologist.
If you are worried about severe pain when urinating, take a pain reliever or antispasmodic. In the most extreme case (if there is no medical facility nearby), dry heat can be applied to the bladder area – for example, a heating pad, a hot water bottle, or heated salt wrapped in a dense cloth.
During the treatment of cystitis in women, it is worth adhering to a diet: exclude spicy, salty, smoked foods from the diet, drink more liquids, tea, jelly, compote, fruit drink (better than cranberry!), Reduce coffee and carbonated drinks.
Treatment of chronic cystitis in women, first of all, involves finding the cause of chronic inflammation and its elimination. Sometimes the treatment of cystitis may require surgery, for example, if there is an incomplete emptying of the bladder, leading to stagnation of urine.
Prevention of cystitis in women
Prevention of cystitis in women is quite simple. You need to follow a few simple rules.
- Avoid hypothermia.
- Sleep well and be less nervous.
- Stick to a healthy diet, limit the consumption of fatty, salty, spicy and smoked foods, carbonated drinks.
- Drink enough fluids – drinking water, compotes, fruit drinks (especially cranberries!).
- Avoid wearing tight, tight synthetic underwear. Lace thongs certainly look great, but it’s best to save them for a special occasion rather than everyday wear.
- Maintain personal hygiene, but make sure that the intimate hygiene product does not contain fragrances, dyes and sulfates.
- Avoid unprotected sex and don’t change sexual partners frequently.
- Visit the gynecologist regularly and take all the necessary tests,
- Do not tolerate when you feel the urge to urinate.
- For any disturbing symptoms, contact a specialist immediately, and do not self-medicate.