Cystitis, also called urinary tract infection or a UTI for short, can be treated easily and efficiently with an antibiotic treatment.

UTI that can affect both men and women of all ages, but most often it is seen in younger women. It can be an extremely annoying disorder that can cause urinary incontinence and abdominal pain. The most common cause of inflammation is the bacteria from the intestines that occur in the urethra.

This can occur, for example, by poor hygiene when going to the toilet or having intercourse. UTI is not a sexually transmitted disease, but when it comes to sex, some bacteria may enter the urethra that doesn’t belong there.

The condition is often easy to treat with antibiotics, but untreated it can lead to complications. If the inflammation is not treated on time, it may spread to the upper part of the urethra leading to the kidneys. This may mean kidney inflammation. It is a more severe inflammatory condition that should be treated immediately.

What’s on this page?

How do you get cystitis?

There may be different reasons for urinary tract infection. In many cases, there are one’s own bacteria from the intestine, which have been transported to the urethra, thus creating an inflammatory condition. Often it is E. Coli bacteria or the like. There may also be bacteria from the stomach that have entered the urethra. Here, among others, Staphylococcus saprophyticus bacteria may be the problem. In rare cases, inflammation may also be due to yeast that develops the infection.

You can not get infected with the disease. This means that the disease occurs only because of the bacteria.

A UTI is also not a sexually transmitted disease, but you may have the inflammation associated with sex. This happens, for example, if you have had anal sex and then vaginal sex without washing in the between the penetration. In this way, bacteria from the intestine channel can enter the vagina. Thus, It’s not like chlamydia or herpes that you get infected through sex. However, some of the symptoms may resemble each other and it is, therefore, important to rule out sexually transmitted diseases.

Who can get Cystitis?

Urinary tract infections affect more women than men. This is because a woman’s urethra is shorter than men’s, and therefore the bacteria can travel easier to the urethra. In addition, pregnant women with submerged uterus and men with an enlarged prostate are more prone to inflammation of the urethra. Very many women, experience bladder infection at some point in their lives. It is also normal to get it again. If you have it often, it should be investigated if there is an underlying cause. Some also get bladder infection every time they have sex. It can be prevented with proper treatment.

There are some factors that increase the risk of inflammation. These are:

  • Poor hygiene after toilet visits
  • Menopause for women due to hormonal changes
  • Poor bladder drainage
  • Stones in the urinary tract
  • Sexual intercourse – especially anal sex
  • “Honey-moon cystitis” – Bladder infection after much sexual intercourse or intercourse with a new person
  • Surgery in the stomach and urinary tract

Urinary tract infection and intercourse

Cohabitation increases the risk of infection as vaginal bacteria access the urinary tract and can reach the bladder through the urethra. It is, therefore, possible to have intercourse if this feels comfortable. However, it is important to go to the toilet no later than 15 minutes after sex to avoid this.

Is it contagious?

The condition is not a sexually transmitted disease and is not contagious. It’s not sex in itself that gives you this, but intercourse makes it easier for bacteria to find their way to the urethra.

Urinary tract infections and pregnancy

If you are pregnant and suffer from a recurrent infection, it is important to contact a GP who can send you to a specialist to find a type of antibiotic that is safe to take while pregnant. Some antibiotics should not be used during pregnancy as they may contain harmful substances. Nitrofurantoin and Trimethoprim should never be used in the first trimester and Sulphamethoxazole should not be used during the last pregnancy month.

Urinary tract infection men

Although women are more prone to this due to a shorter urethra, men may also experience urinary tract infections. They are more common in older men than in younger men. The infection usually results in bacteria entering the urethra and wandering up to the bladder. Generally, it is bowel bacteria, but it may also be due to other bacteria.

  • Enlarged prostate
  • Kidney stones
  • Poor bladder drainage
  • Obstructions in the urethra
  • Drinking too little liquid
  • Diabetes

It is important to be aware of the disorder and to investigate that there is an underlying cause. Men often have a longer treatment time when they experience cystitis.

Cystitis in children

In children, the symptoms of UTI are usually vague and they cannot tell about the plagues of lower urinary tract infection until they are 3-4 years old. They will be affected by an increased urge for urination, burning and passage of very small amounts of urine.

In infants, you will notice reduced general condition and reduced weight gain. Infection in children is more frequent among girls due to the anatomy of the urethra.

Symptoms

The symptoms of cystitis are often easily recognizable. It may start with an incredible urge to go to the toilet and a feeling of not being able to control the bladder. Even if you feel this need to go to the toilet, you may just have a very small amount of urine coming out. Wound impurities can occur very spontaneously, which means that someone experiences urinary incontinence. It can be both a damp and burning feeling when you turn away. In addition, you may experience mild fever and tremor as well as common malaise. If inflammation is spread to the kidneys, in addition to the other symptoms, it may also cause back pain and higher fever.

Urinary tract infection symptoms and signs of bladder catarrh:

Frequent urination Stinging urination urinary incontinence Dark and malignant urine
Nausea General discomfort Pain in the lower abdomen area Light fever

How long does it last?

Uncomplicated conditions are often treated within three days of antibiotics, if it does not disappear by itself, you will notice a more rapid recovery of the right antibiotic cure and only one dose is needed to get rid of the problem.

Treatment options

If you experience symptoms of urinary tract infection, it is important to be aware of them. You can take a urine test at your GP and test if there are any bacteria in the urine. It indicates whether there is an inflammatory condition in the urinary tract. Some of the symptoms of inflammation may resemble other infections such as chlamydia or abdomen. Therefore, it is important that the correct diagnosis is made before the treatment of the infection.

Medicines for treating UTI

Cystitis is treated with antibiotics like Trimopan. It’s different how long a treatment you need. If you are a woman and experience urinary tract infections without further complications, the infection may be gone within a few days of antibiotic treatment. If you are a man, treatment may last longer. In some cases, the infection spreads to the kidneys. If this is the case, treatment may take about 14 days. If the infection has spread to the kidneys, hospitalization may in some cases be necessary.

If you are in doubt about whether treatment has been successful, check your urine one week after treatment and if there is still inflammation present. However, for most, the prescribed treatment is sufficient.

Antibiotic treatment: for how long?

The most common treatment is a three-day antibiotic treatment. In some cases, there is no need for them and you can often get a prescription for medicine that you may take if you feel the symptoms worsen.

Uncomplicated condition, that is, lower urinary tract infection usually treats with Trimethoprim, Pivmecillinam or Nitrofurantoin, and one dose may sometimes be enough to get rid of it. In case of recurrent urinary tract infection, one should vary the antibiotics, as the body may become resistant to a medicine if used frequently.

In complicated conditions, treatment lasts for five to seven days, and Ciprofloxacin is often used in such cases. In case of recurring uncomplicated conditions, the symptoms are often well known and the doctor will then be able to print several doses of antibiotics that can be taken if this occurs again.

Can I buy treatment without a prescription?

Treatment for urinary tract infection is antibiotics. They can not be bought over the counter, so you have to see your doctor before getting the medicine.

Prevention of Cystitis

Cystitis can be incredibly annoying and develop into more complicated conditions if it is not treated on time. Therefore, it is important to be aware of preventing the infection.

This can be done in different ways:

  • Ensure good hygiene when you go to the toilet (especially if you are a woman) and always wipe from front to back so that intestinal bacteria do not get into the vagina.
  • Go to the toilet after intercourse
  • Do not use the same condom for anal sex as for vaginal sex
  • Remember to empty the bladder completely every time you pee
  • Drink plenty of water – even if you have bladder infection – to clean it through
  • Drinking cranberry juice without added sugar is believed to have a protective effect for some bacteria in the urethra.