Cystitis is a common condition where the lining of the bladder becomes inflamed and makes urinating painful.
Dr Rob Hicks last medically reviewed this article in January 2008
Cystitis is a common condition where the lining of the bladder becomes inflamed and makes urinating painful.
Dr Rob Hicks last medically reviewed this article in January 2008
Cystitis usually occurs as the result of an infection.
Although anyone can get cystitis, adult women are most commonly affected. Most women get at least one attack in their lifetime.
For some women cystitis is a rare event, for others it happens four or five times a year. Cystitis is more common in sexually active women, during pregnancy and after the menopause.
Common symptoms are a sharp pain when passing urine, and an urgent and frequent need to pass urine, often with little or no urine being passed.
Other possible symptoms include blood in the urine, backache, loin pain, lower abdominal aches and generally feeling unwell.
Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Drinking one glass of cranberry juice a day is also believed to help prevent cystitis.
After visiting the toilet, women should always wipe themselves from front to back. Loose clothing and cotton underwear help, too.
Avoid potential irritants such as perfumed bath oils and vaginal deodorants. Don't douche. Always wash before and after sex, and pass water as soon after sex as possible.
Treatment options include:
Ask the doctor for advice if this is the first time cystitis has occurred, if the symptoms don't improve after 24 hours or get worse, if blood is present in the urine or if symptoms are accompanied by fever, loin pain or lower backache.
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