Preventing Cystitis: Harnessing the Power of Probiotics for Effective Defense

Probiotics offer a genuine alternative for the prevention of cystitis.

Many women experience the burden of cystitis.

Cystitis is caused by many factors including:

• Sexual intercourse
• Menstruation
• Long journeys
• High levels of stress
• Taking medicines (antibiotics).

Sexual intercourse: preventing cystitis with probiotics

Cystitis often occurs after sexual intercourse. The widely known preventive practices include: keeping sufficiently well hydrated, washing from front to back, avoiding excessive use of intimate products or soaps, and wearing loose-fitting and cotton clothing.

However, these tips are sometimes not enough. Intravaginal or oral probiotics can be used within two hours of sexual intercourse. Probiotics help maintain a balanced vaginal flora. Sexual intercourse can disrupt the vaginal flora and cause bacteria (E. coli in most cases of cystitis) to colonize the urogenital area.

Cystitis, menstruation, and probiotics

Cystitis can also occur immediately after menstruation. As already mentioned, menstruation is one of the leading causes of cystitis. Taking probiotics outside of your periods can help prevent cystitis and other intimate discomforts. Some women report that they suffer from cystitis or intimate discomfort in the days following their period. This is due to menstrual blood flow changing the vaginal flora. After menstruation, a four-day course of probiotics may be recommended to rebalance the flora.

Long journeys: think about probiotics

Probiotics administered intravaginally can also work as an ally to prevent cystitis but also other fungal infections when traveling.

In the days following a long car or plane journey (sitting for several hours), discomfort in the intimate area or even cystitis can occur.

As a reminder, the main symptoms are:

• A frequent urge to urinate
• Heaviness in the lower stomach
• Urinary discomfort

Discomfort in the intimate areas (burning or stinging sensation, dryness, irritation). CSB Klinik recommends taking intravaginal probiotics the day before a long journey, or even two days before. The course can continue during the trip. The aim is to maintain the optimal vaginal flora (acidic pH) required to protect your intimate area. This protection will prevent bacteria from colonizing the urogenital area.

High-stress levels, the right way to avoid cystitis

Periods of stress result in severe fatigue and lowered immunity, which can lead to changes in the vaginal flora. To prevent this type of problem, CSB Klinik recommends taking a course of intravaginal probiotics. The length of the course will depend on the period concerned. However, a course of 10 days per month outside of the menstrual period can be beneficial. Antibiotics, probiotics, an automatic choice

When taking antibiotics, the following discomforts are commonly reported:

• Irritation
• Redness
• Vaginal itchiness
• Urinary discomfort
• Stinging
• Vaginal dryness
• Heaviness in the lower stomach.

Why? Antibiotics destroy all bacteria, both good and bad.

However, the good bacteria in the vaginal flora include lactobacilli, which provide optimal protection to your vaginal area. A lactobacillus deficiency can therefore disrupt the vaginal flora and weaken your natural protection, opening the way to undesirable microbes. CSB Klinik, therefore, recommends topical probiotics to be administered simultaneously as the course of antibiotics to prevent any intimate discomfort associated with these medicinal products.

#StoryTime: Robine and the anguish after menstruation!

Robine, who is 36 years old, frequently experiences intimate discomfort after her period has ended. It doesn’t happen systematically, but almost every other time. She experiences the following symptoms: discomfort in her lower abdomen when she wakes up. Then a burning sensation when she urinates. She has noticed a particularly unpleasant smell at the same time as her urinary tract infections. She then experiences severe itchiness although scratching inevitably makes it worse. However, she finds it hard to differentiate between fungal infection and cystitis. She regularly visits her doctor to obtain appropriate treatment. She finds the situation very tough and is seeking a solution. CSB Klinik recommends taking a course of intravaginal probiotics for four days after her period. This course will allow an optimal recolonization of the vaginal flora disrupted by the menstrual blood flow.

Conclusion

Lactobacilli are the preferred probiotics. Several types of lactobacilli are available. The best ones for optimal vaginal flora are: L. crispatus, L. jensenii, L. gasseri, L. iners, L. vaginalis, L. reuteri, L. fermentum, L. rhamnosus.

Note: The actual situations and advice given are those reported by Dr. Bouba Camara-Sampil during the course of his professional practice.

No scientific data are available to demonstrate the proven benefit of probiotics; however, the advice is based on the approach adopted by Dr Camara-Sampil in his work and which has given very good results to his patients.