According to statistics, cystitis is more common in women than in men, which is explained by physiological differences in the structure of the urethra. This disease is usually accompanied by many unpleasant symptoms: pain and pain during urination, frequent urination, pain in the lower abdomen.
Cystitis is a common disease of the urinary system. This is mainly due to the characteristics of the anatomical structure, so cystitis is more common in women than in men.
What are the causes and first symptoms of cystitis in women? What are the main symptoms of female cystitis? What types of cystitis are isolated? Which doctor treats cystitis and how is the disease treated at home? Is it possible to prevent the development of cystitis and what should be done for this?
Cystitis in women: is it necessary to make an appointment with a doctor?
Cystitis in women can occur as a result of various infectious diseases, helminthic invasions, stones in the bladder, onset of menopause, disruption of the endocrine system, and taking certain medications. In addition, there is interstitial cystitis, the exact mechanism of which has not yet been clarified.
It should also be noted that cystitis in women can be acute or chronic. The chronic form is characterized by both frequent recurrence of the disease and slow, continuous manifestation of symptoms.
So that the disease does not become a constant source of discomfort, it is necessary to consult a doctor at the first signs of the disease and undergo the necessary treatment. For this, it is enough to call the profile clinic. Specialists dealing with this problem are urologists and gynecologists. Although even a general practitioner can treat an uncomplicated form of the disease.
For the diagnosis of cystitis in women, a urine test, a smear from the urethra and vagina are usually taken. In the chronic form of the disease, it is also recommended to undergo an examination for the possibility of sexually transmitted diseases (STD).
In addition, in some cases, additional examinations are necessary, for which you will have to make an appointment with a nephrologist, ultrasound of the pelvis or cystoscopy.
The insidiousness of this disease is that the treatment of cystitis is usually quite easy and the unpleasant symptoms disappear quickly. Therefore, many women prefer to treat themselves by taking antibacterial drugs advertised in pharmacies.
However, the lack of proper therapy, its short duration, and wrongly selected drugs contribute to the transition of the disease into a chronic form, which, in turn, is difficult to treat. Therefore, you should not take risks in the choice of medicine and use the advice of friends - it is better to call your doctor by phone and make an appointment. It should be remembered that timely treatment will not only prevent chronic cystitis, but also save other organs from the spread of infection.
What symptoms of cystitis cause more concern?
Symptoms of acute cystitis in women always appear suddenly. These include:
- frequent and strong urge to urinate;
- an increase in the amount of leukocytes in the urine and a change in its smell;
- the presence of traces of blood in the urine;
- cutting pain in the lower abdomen;
- burning and pain during urination;
- increase in body temperature.
These symptoms develop very quickly. About every quarter of an hour, a woman should visit the toilet, and the amount of urine in each visit is minimal. In addition, spasm of the bladder muscles can cause urinary incontinence.
Cystitis has a tendency to relapse. Most women seek help at least once a year.
In the chronic form of the disease, the symptoms are less pronounced. For example, discomfort during urination is quite moderate. The frequency of going to the toilet does not change. In general, a person can lead a normal life and participate in work (education).
Methods of prevention and treatment of cystitis
In order to find out the possible ways to prevent and treat cystitis in the delicate sex, it is necessary to determine the main causes of the disease. These include:
- structural features of the urethra in women (it is shorter and wider than in men);
- hormonal fluctuations that disrupt the balance of microflora and weaken the strength of local immunity (pregnancy, menopause);
- urinary tract infection (may occur due to insufficient personal hygiene, unprotected intercourse);
- trauma (for example, when using a catheter to divert urine).
Cystitis can also occur as a disease accompanied by diabetes mellitus or urolithiasis. By the way, it is impossible to "win" this disease from hypothermia. And similar symptoms signal the development of polyuria (cold diuresis).
Therefore, the first thing to do when faced with cystitis is to dial the phone number of the clinic and make an appointment with a doctor. Only an experienced specialist, based on tests, will determine the presence of an inflammatory process and prescribe the correct antibiotic therapy. It will eliminate most of the unpleasant symptoms in the first days.
Also, the treatment of cystitis includes taking pain relievers and antipyretic drugs. Doctors recommend to follow a sufficient drinking regime during therapy, which will speed up recovery (bacteria will be washed out of the body faster with urine).
Experts do not get tired of warning that it is dangerous to self-treat this disease. Indeed, many diseases of the genitourinary system have symptoms similar to bacterial cystitis, which cannot be treated with an antimicrobial drug. As a result, you can lose your valuable time and face a serious threat to your health.
Measures to prevent this disease are:
- personal hygiene (daily change of underwear, frequent change of pillows, as well as regular shower);
- wear properly selected underwear made of natural materials;
- timely treatment of all existing diseases of the genitourinary system;
- forced trips to the toilet and shower after sex.
If the attack is on the road or on vacation, you should avoid hypothermia, drink more fluids, limit the consumption of spicy and salty foods, as well as alcohol, before consulting a doctor.
If you have chronic cystitis, you should visit your doctor before a long trip and talk to him about a number of medications you should take on the road. And take his phone number for emergency contact (if possible).