What are the main causes of cystitis? We asked a GP
Anyone who has ever had cystitis knows how debilitating and painful the condition can be. And it turns out that lots of women suffer with cystitis.
'Cystitis is a really common presentation to the GP surgery,' Catherine Hyatt – a GP based in Dorset – tells Red.
Here, Dr Hyatt gives us the lowdown on cystitis, including what it is, the main symptoms and causes and how to treat cystitis at home.
WHAT IS CYSTITIS?
Cystitis essentially means infection of the bladder and also can be referred to as a lower urinary tract infection (UTI).
WHAT ARE THE MAIN SYMPTOMS OF CYSTITIS?
The main symptoms you can experience with cystitis are pain or burning when you pee, going to the loo more often (and sometimes having to run to get there!), smelly or cloudy urine and pain below your belly button. On top of that, you can feel generally under the weather and run down.
WHAT CAUSES CYSTITIS?
Cystitis generally occurs when bacteria from the bowel, or the skin, gets into the urethra (the thin tube that comes from the bladder to get urine out of the body).
We can not always identify why cystitis has occurred, but some things which can make it more likely to happen. They include having sex, being pregnant or having Diabetes or other health conditions which weaken the immune system. If you find that you are getting recurrent episodes of cystitis, it is always worth calling up your GP to explore further.
WHAT'S THE FASTEST WAY TO GET RID OF CYSTITIS?
For many, uncomplicated cystitis can resolve by itself within a couple of days and you can even manage the symptoms at home. Drinking lots of water, using painkillers as necessary and avoiding sex when you have symptoms can all help get on top of it. Some people even try cranberry-based products to manage symptoms, but there is actually no firm evidence as of yet if this works.
If your symptoms are not improving after three days, you feel unwell with fevers, vomiting or pain in your kidney area, or you are pregnant it is always worth chatting to a GP as you may need antibiotics.
CAN MEN GET CYSTITIS?
Men can get cystitis too, but unfortunately it is us women who seem to experience cystitis symptoms more commonly. So, it’s always helpful to know the symptoms and self-care measures so you can get on top of things and get help when you need to.
WHAT IS INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS? AND WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
Interstitial Cystitis (IC) is a really important condition to be aware of, as it can cause significant impacts to a women’s physical and psychological health. It is characterised by intense and often chronic pelvic pain and problems peeing. Sometimes you can find it gets worse during your period or after certain food or drinks.
Unfortunately at the moment Interstitial Cystitis is not as well understood as other illnesses, so it is important that we raise awareness of it as a condition. If you find you are experiencing the symptoms above, book in with your GP who will likely refer you on to a specialist (called a Urologist) for further investigations. Unlike cystitis, IC is not an infection as such – although we don’t know the exact cause of it yet – so generally a more holistic approach is taken to managing symptoms.
Subscribe to Red now to get the magazine delivered to your door. Red's latest issue is out now and available for purchase online and via Readly or Apple News+.
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
You Might Also Like
