Understanding Cystitis: A Common Bladder Infection - Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention

Cystitis is a bladder infection generally caused by a bacterium. In most cases, the bacterium responsible for the infection is Escherichia coli. You, like many women around the world have got cystitis.

CSB Klinik is explaining this urinary tract infection to help you to recognise cystitis and have information on the different treatments as well as the good practices to adopt in order to avoid it.

Symptoms of urinary tract infections usually include discomfort when you urinate, in the form of a burning sensation. Symptoms may also include discomfort in the lower abdomen, e.g. stomach ache below the navel. Frequent urination is also a symptom of cystitis, having to wake up several times a night to urinate. You may sometimes have blood in your urine. However, don’t worry, this does not necessarily mean that the infection is serious. Although we do suggest that you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

If you have one or more of these symptoms, the urine test (video tutorial) is an excellent way to identify if you have cystitis. There are self-tests, like the COVID-19 antigen tests, but these require some interpretation.

How do you treat cystitis?

There are different types of cystitis, including acute cystitis, chronic (recurrent) cystitis, and interstitial cystitis. They all require a medical consultation and there is a specific treatment for each type of cystitis.

Cystitis is referred as “simple” when there are no risk of complications. Cystitis is classified as “Cystitis with a risk of complications” when it occurs in patients with at least one risk factor that can lead to more serious infections. Cystitis with a risk of complications require special attention and more complex treatment.

Acute cystitis means you need to see a doctor who will treat your urinary tract infection with antibiotics. Antibiotic treatment lasts for a maximum of five days depending on the antibiotic used.

Chronic or recurrent cystitis is when you get cystitis at least twice over a six-month period or when you get it at least three times over a 12-month period. You will need then regular medical follow-up.

Interstitial (irritable) cystitis is characterised by pain in the lower stomach (below the navel). This type of cystitis is not due to a bacterial infection but by irritation of the bladder walls which causes symptoms such as urinating frequently, pain in the lower stomach, and burning sensation when urinating. When interstitial cystitis has lasted for over six months, it is essential that it is treated with the appropriate medical care and followed up by a doctor and a physiotherapist. A physiotherapist will provide pelvic re-education support, which is often necessary for this type of cystitis.

What causes cystitis?

Getting and having cystitis is not inevitable, but there are many factors that can trigger it. Some of the triggering factors for this condition include having sex, imbalanced vaginal flora, genetics and the early onset of the first episode of cystitis:

In patients with chronic cystitis, having sex often over a short period of time increases the risk of getting this urinary infection. Thus, in sensitive patients, the shorter the gap between intercourse, the greater the risk of discomfort. The balance of the vaginal flora plays an essential role in preventing cystitis. Many factors such as the use of spermicides, oral contraceptives such as the pill or having a period are all factors that can disrupt the vaginal flora.

Cystitis, a family problem: if some family members (sisters, mother, aunts) were prone to cystitis at a young age, then you are more likely to get this infection.

Also, if you first had cystitis before the age of 15, your bladder may have been weakened, meaning you will be more prone to cystitis. It is therefore important to assess the irritability of your bladder (hypersensitive or irritable bladder).

Our expert advice Discover the advice from our experts: doctor, physiotherapist, nutritionist and even sex therapist to combat cystitis.

Preventing and avoiding this urinary tract infection

There are several tips for avoiding cystitis: observing good daily hygiene, staying sufficiently hydrated, respecting good practices when you have sex and take contraceptives.

A tip for preventing cystitis that can be quickly forgotten is to avoid wearing tight clothes as they do not allow your private parts to breathe freely. Ensuring your crotch area is well aerated will limit the proliferation of bacteria that cause cystitis.

To combat cystitis, the best thing is drinking enough fluids. Good hydration, i.e. a daily consumption of about 1 to 1.5 L of water is recommended to maintain abundant micturition* which will help flush out the germs.

Sexual intercourse also plays an important role in the development of cystitis. After every sexual encounter, but also every time you go to the toilet, wipe yourself dry. When wiping, it is important to do so in the right direction. You must wipe from front to the back to limit the transfer of bacteria from the anal area to the vagina. These tips are considered the essential hygiene measures for combating cystitis.

Another tip for women who regularly get cystitis is to avoid using spermicides. This kind of contraceptive helps unbalance the vaginal flora and thus promotes bladder infections.