Cystitis in women is an inflammatory process that occurs in the bladder in acute or chronic form. The disease is also diagnosed in men, but much less often - the anatomy of the urethra plays a role. Most often, the pathology is infectious in nature: pathogenic bacteria penetrate into the urinary system and in most cases it is E. coli. The main feature of the course of cystitis in women are frequent recurrences: in 50% of cases, patients visit a doctor for this disease twice a year. The symptoms of cystitis are quite pronounced, so the diagnosis is not difficult.
The causes of the development of the inflammatory process in the bladder in women can be:
- various infectious diseases, including sexually transmitted ones - the penetration of pathogens occurs in a contagious line: from the vagina and urethra;
- use of cosmetics and personal hygiene with detergents - cystitis in women in this case is a reaction of the body to aggressive substances in their composition;
- hypothermia against the background of reduced immunity - just being in the cold can not be the cause, because cystitis in women develops only against the background of reduced immunity.
Provocative factors include:
- the presence of a chronic infection in the body, regardless of the location of the focus;
- recent gynecological inflammatory diseases, genital infections, acute respiratory viral infections;
- problems with the functioning of the hormonal system in women;
- improper personal hygiene;
- frequent change of sexual partners;
- a general decline in immunity against the background of a disease, forced long-term use of certain drugs.
Cystitis in women is diagnosed much more often than in men and this is due to the anatomical features of the urinary system. Women have a short and wide urethra, the urethra, vagina and anus are very close to it: pathogenic microorganisms penetrate the bladder very quickly and easily.
Separately, doctors consider cystitis after sexual intercourse, which can occur not only in women but also in men. The classic symptoms of inflammation really scare people, they believe an infection has occurred with a sexually transmitted disease. In fact, such a cyst in women and men is a reaction of the body to a "foreign" microflora. The inflammatory process is treated according to the standard scheme and is not a sexually transmitted disease.
Symptoms of cystitis in women
Regardless of the reasons, cystitis in women of an acute form has pronounced signs that are always severe:
- very frequent urination, which has nothing to do with the amount of fluid consumed - a symptom that helps distinguish cystitis from high blood sugar;
- violation of urine flow - when required, very little urine is released from the urethra, there is a feeling of fullness of the bladder;
- pain syndrome - burning, cramps during urination, localized in the groin, perineum and at the bottom of the abdomen;
- itching, discomfort and burning sensation in the perineum - not an obvious sign, natural in other diseases;
- urine becomes turbid, there may be an unpleasant odor, symptom may be the presence of "strings" of blood in the urine;
- general weakness, a slight increase in body temperature is not an obvious sign.
If cystitis in women appears in a chronic form, then all the signs and symptoms listed will not be pronounced, only with a worsening they become intense. Cystitis in a chronic form can manifest in women only with very frequent urination.
Treatment of cystitis
Before the doctor prescribes the treatment of cystitis, urine tests are taken from the women (general and for bacteriological culture). Diagnosis is not difficult, because cystitis manifests itself with specific signs and symptoms - it is enough just to differentiate the disease from other sexually transmitted infections. Appointment of ultrasound, cystoscopy, research for urogenital infections is done only if there are individual indications.
Treatment of the inflammatory process of the bladder in women consists in the choice of conservative therapy. Cystitis in women means the following appointments:
- Antibacterial drugs. The duration of treatment is 1-7 days, it all depends on the form and stage of cystitis in a particular woman.
- Symptomatic therapy. In women, cystitis is manifested by severe pain and discomfort and treatment should aim to alleviate the patient's condition. To do this, use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, recommend drinking plenty of water.
- Auxiliary tools. Treatment may include herbal uroseptics, bacterial lyophilisates. The evidence base for their effectiveness is insufficient, the effectiveness has not been confirmed, although women have an easier course of the disease (symptoms and signs become non-intense quickly) and a speedy recovery.
Cystitis in women is treated within 7-10 days and during this period doctors recommend adhering to certain dietary restrictions. Refusing alcoholic beverages, chocolate, hot / spicy spices, caffeine will be effective. You need to drink plenty of fluids to improve urination and speed up the washing process of pathogenic bacteria.
Possible complications
If cystitis in women takes a long time and treatment is not performed as directed by a doctor, then serious and dangerous complications can develop:
- kidney failure;
- formation of adhesions in the bladder;
- formation of tumors of a benign or malignant nature;
- bleeding, ulcerative lesions of the bladder walls;
- urinary system dysfunction.
Cystitis is quite insidious in relation to the psycho-emotional state. Women develop complexes and fears, anxiety and irritability: frequent trips to the toilet, the need to be constantly indoors, pain and discomfort during intercourse contribute to this.
Disease prevention
To reduce the risk of developing cystitis in women, you should follow simple rules of prevention:
- do not get too cold;
- visit the toilet on the first call and do not be patient;
- have a healthy sex life;
- timely treatment of any infectious process;
- observe the rules of personal hygiene.
Cystitis is actually diagnosed more often in women because men have a slightly different anatomy of the urinary system. Treating the disease is not difficult if it starts at the right time and as prescribed by the doctor. The only way to help yourself before a visit to the doctor is to take painkillers. Antibiotics and other medications are chosen individually - only in this case, treatment in women will be effective and cystitis does not turn into a chronic form of the course.