Cystitis in women

Cystitis is one of the most common diseases of the genitourinary system.During the pathological process, for one reason or another (infectious agents, chemical and traumatic injuries), inflammation of the bladder mucosa occurs.

Cystitis is considered a typically female disease.According to medical statistics, 80% of all cases of cystitis are women.This is understandable from an anatomical point of view: women's urinary tracts are much shorter than men's, which means that pathogens (which are mainly the causative agents of cystitis) encounter less resistance and travel faster to the bladder.This is why women should empty their bladder more frequently, and if urinary retention occurs, the risk of developing cystitis increases significantly.

Cystitis affects not only the mucous membrane of the bladder.In general, it is a very complex disease that causes many complications and discomforts.

Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment strategies depend on many factors:

1. The nature of the pathological process;
2. Location of inflammation;
3. A type of pathogen.

Cystitis is divided into types according to several criteria:

• Based on the type of pathogen: bacterial cystitis (chlamydia, ureaplasma, gonorrhea, other pathogens of sexually transmitted diseases, as well as staphylococci, streptococci, E. coli and others) and non-bacterial cystitis (toxic, caused by medications, allergies);
• According to the nature of the course of the disease: acute cystitis (occurring in the acute phase with the manifestation of typical symptoms) and chronic (occurring in a latent or recurrent form);
• Depending on the presence and type of organic (morphological) changes in the organ: ulcerative, catarrhal, cystic;
• Based on the localization of the pathological process: cystitis of the bladder mucosa, affecting the submucosal layer, affecting the muscular layer.

Symptoms of cystitis in women

Pain with cystitis

The nature and intensity of pain and discomfort during cystitis are purely individual and depend on the pain threshold, as well as the degree of damage to the bladder structures themselves.

It is generally accepted that with cystitis, the pain is localized only in the bladder area.This is not entirely true.Often the pain can be radiating (wandering) in nature.The pain from cystitis moves to the lumbosacral spine and patients feel as if their back is hurting.Pain syndrome can also be localized in the coccyx region.

Pain is often accompanied by general symptoms of body intoxication: headache of varying intensity (localized in the forehead), weakness and fatigue, hyperthermia (increase in body temperature) up to 37.5 - 38 degrees.Pain and manifestations of intoxication are considered a single symptom of the pathology and are inseparable from each other, although with weakened immunity hyperthermia may not occur.

Cystitis with blood in women

In some cases, women with cystitis may notice that their urine appears pale pink or deep red.There may be two reasons for this: either we are talking about acute cystitis, or its much more serious form - hemorrhagic cystitis.It is relatively simple to distinguish them;in acute cystitis, urine acquires a reddish hue at the end of urination;in complicated cystitis, the urine remains red throughout the act and maintains its hue during all subsequent trips to the bathroom.

Also among the causes of cystitis:

1. Injury to the walls of the bladder and urethra by foreign objects;
2. Lack of bladder muscle tone;
3. Congestion in the bladder, leading to the development of degenerative changes;
4. Anatomical disorders (stenosis of the lumen of the urinary canal, compression of the structures of the excretory system due to oncological neoplasia).

Therefore, most often cystitis with blood in women is a secondary pathology caused by certain factors.

Acute cystitis with blood, and especially hemorrhagic cystitis, is difficult:

• There is intense, constant and persistent pain.
• Frequent false urge to urinate;
• The main manifestation of these forms of cystitis is bleeding.Although the blood begins to come out a few hours after the beginning of the acute phase, the intensity of the bleeding can be so high that the blood, under the influence of specific substances contained in the urine, will clot, forming large blood clots.Blood clots, obstructing the lumen of the urethra, lead to a delay in the outflow of urine and, as a result, further complicate the patient's condition.

Itching and burning with cystitis

Itching and burning are perhaps the most common symptoms of cystitis in women after pain.Typically, both manifestations are observed in the allergic or infectious nature of cystitis.

Itching and burning also frequently occur in the allergic origin of cystitis.The allergen is recognized by the patient's immune system as an antigen, and as a result the immune system produces specific antibodies to combat the “dangerous intruder”.As a result of the reaction, the antigen-antibody complex settles in mast cells (basophils) located in the region of the urethra and urethra.Under the influence of the complex, basophils are destroyed, releasing large amounts of the substance histamine, which mediates itching and causes an unbearable itching and burning sensation.

For similar reasons, itching and burning are also observed in inflammatory lesions: infectious agents and toxic products of their metabolic activity (with cystitis of bacterial origin) or specific substances contained in medicines accumulate in large quantities in the urine.When released, these substances affect superficial nerve endings.

In general, a symptom such as itching with a 95% probability indicates an allergic or infectious nature of cystitis, which means that concomitant damage to the vaginal mucosa is possible.

Can there be a fever with cystitis?

To correctly answer the question, you need to understand why body temperature rises.Hyperthermia occurs as a result of an acute immunological reaction to a substance or microorganism of foreign origin.At temperatures above 37 degrees, pathogens lose their former activity and the intensity of their vital activity decreases sharply.Almost always, infectious cystitis is accompanied by an increase in body temperature ranging from 37.5 to 38.2 degrees.This normal phenomenon indicates a strong immune system that can resist infection.The height of the numbers largely depends on the direct causative agent of the disease.

For this reason, even cystitis of an infectious nature may not lead to an increase in temperature.For example, the causative agent of tuberculosis in the early stages of the disease is not revealed by an increase in temperature, while most sexually transmitted infections and even adenoviruses cause significant hyperthermia, up to values of 39 degrees.

Causes of cystitis in women

As noted earlier, the disease in the vast majority of cases develops in women, which is due to the short and wide channel of the urethra, the close location of the anus and vagina (as is known, even opportunistic microflora of the mucous membranes of the colon and vagina can cause the development of inflammation of the bladder, and it often happens that pathogenic bacteria live on the mucous membranes).microorganisms that do not manifest themselves to a certain extent).

In 85-90% of cases, cystitis in women develops precisely due to the penetration of a pathogenic or opportunistic microorganism (infectious cystitis).The pathogen does not always enter the bladder through the vagina or anus.

Penetration routes can be different:

1. Descending path.The infection can spread from the kidneys to the bladder;
2. Ascending path.What has already been mentioned is from the outside through the urethra to the bladder;
3. Hematogenous route.Relatively rarely, a bacteria or virus enters the bladder through the bloodstream.The cause can be any focus of infectious lesion in the body, however, the chance of a pathogen passing, for example, from the tonsils to the bladder, is extremely small, but still exists.
4. Lymphogenic pathway.The pathogen enters the bladder from the pelvic organs that are inflamed.

However, in addition to infectious origin, cystitis can develop due to:

• Taking certain medications.Among these, for example, are cytostatic medicines used to combat malignant neoplasms;
• Allergic reactions.Allergies are often local in nature.In some cases, the bladder is affected.

There are several factors that increase the risk of developing cystitis:

1. Inflammation of the vagina (colpitis) and sexually transmitted diseases.Given the anatomical proximity of the vagina and urethra, the occurrence of cystitis is only a matter of time;
2. The same can be said about constipation and other intestinal problems (colitis, etc.).Microorganisms from the large intestine, also due to the anatomical proximity of the anus and external genitalia, can cause the formation of acute cystitis;
3. Nephrological diseases: kidney stones, nephritis and pyelonephritis, urinary retention.According to the descending principle, the infection usually descends from the kidneys to the bladder, and with stagnation of urine, pathologies and very serious forms of cystitis can develop.
4. Peak hormonal states.Pregnancy, menstrual cycle, menopause.The reason lies in changes in hormonal levels and, consequently, in the microflora of the mucous membranes of the vagina and urethra;
5. Predisposing factors also include endocrine diseases, especially diabetes;
6. The risk group includes allergy sufferers, as well as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Regardless of the causes and origin of the disease, cystitis includes a characteristic symptom complex:

• Frequent and painful urination.Burning, dull pain in the bladder and urethra;
• The urge to urinate may be false;
• Urinary incontinence (sometimes);
• Increased nighttime urge without increased urine production.
• Constant pain in the pubic and perineal region, radiating to the lower back and coccyx.Intense pain at the beginning and end of urination;
• Dark or cloudy urine, mixed with pus;
• General manifestations of intoxication.

If the cause lies in allergies, painful itching and burning in the urethral area may occur.

Complications and consequences of cystitis

Cystitis is by no means a harmless disease, and the principles of “drink something” and “it will go away on its own” do not work here.

If the necessary treatment is not carried out on time, the consequences can be more than disastrous:

1. Along the upward path, kidney damage occurs.According to medical statistics, in 95% of cases, untreated cystitis causes severe kidney disease;
2. Women may suffer from urine returning from the bladder to the kidneys.This happens very rarely;
3. Prolonged and at the same time ineffective treatment of cystitis can lead to organic changes in organ tissues.The epithelium degenerates and, as a result, the bladder loses its elasticity, loses its ability to regenerate and decreases in size;
4. If specific treatment is not carried out in a timely manner, there is a high risk that the disease will become chronic.Chronic cystitis, especially infectious (and this happens most often), is a source of constant inflammation;
5. Although it is difficult to call stress and depression direct complications of cystitis, they are.If the pathology is not treated in time, it becomes chronic.Cystitis recurrences are frequent and can occur almost several times a month.The disease puts extreme psychological pressure on a person, literally making a healthy member of society a hostage to the toilet.Furthermore, a dominant is formed in the human mind;
6. Weakening of the bladder sphincter.It can lead to the development of urinary incontinence.Most often it develops in elderly people.

Cystitis diagnosis

Primary diagnosis includes in-person examination by specialized specialists: urologist, nephrologist, gynecologist.

Specialists collect anamnesis and establish possible causes of the disease.

When collecting anamnesis, doctors pay special attention to risk factors:

• Unprotected sexual relations;
• Hypothermia;
• Excessive emotional stress;
• Medications taken;
• The presence of concomitant diseases and pathologies (mainly in the pelvic organs).

Laboratory research

Include:

1. Take a general blood test;
2. Take a general urine test;
3. Sending a urine test for cultures.

Among the instrumental methods, two main ones are used:

• Urethroscopy and cystoscopy.
• Ultrasound examination of the bladder.

How to relieve a cystitis attack?First aid at home

In severe cases, it is recommended to resort to medications:

1. The best solution would be to take antispasmodics;
2. In addition to antispasmodics, pain is relieved with analgesics;
3. Herbal preparations containing oregano and hop cones also help reduce spasm and pain caused by cystitis;
4. Under no circumstances should you take antibacterial medications on your own.It is guaranteed that the use of antibiotics will lead to a change in the picture of laboratory tests, and the specialist will not be able to establish the origin and cause of the disease;
5. If the diagnosis is confirmed and is already known to the patient, the use of antimicrobials can be used.

In all other cases, it is better not to self-medicate.Complicated cystitis attacks (bloody, hemorrhagic) are relieved exclusively in a hospital setting.Otherwise, life-threatening bleeding may occur.

How to treat cystitis in women

Since cystitis in women often develops due to an infectious lesion, specific therapy is aimed at destroying pathogens.

• In recent years, drugs from the fluoroquinolone group have proven their effectiveness.These antibiotics can only be taken as directed by a specialist;
• If diagnostic results reveal specific pathogens, appropriate antifungal, antimicrobial, or antiviral medications are prescribed;
• To eliminate severe pain, antispasmodics and analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are recommended;
• In the absence of allergies to medicinal herbs, it is allowed to drink herbal teas based on blueberries, horsetail and bearberry.Preference should be given to unpackaged products;
• To quickly remove toxins from the body, it is recommended to increase your daily fluid intake.

Cystitis prevention

Personal hygiene rules must be observed.For washing, it is necessary to choose products that are neutral in their acid-base properties.Proper intimate care is the key to the absence of relapses.

It is recommended to empty your bladder whenever possible.Urine stagnation can cause complications to develop.

Hypothermia must not be allowed.Feet must be kept warm and dry.

During an exacerbation of cystitis, it is worth increasing the volume of fluid consumed to 2-2.5 liters per day: water, natural fresh juices, cranberry juice.You should avoid drinking carbonated water and artificial drinks.

Both in the case of acute cystitis and in the case of exacerbation of chronic cystitis, the use of tight synthetic underwear should be avoided.

Constipation indirectly affects the risk of developing cystitis.Therefore, preventive measures also include methods to improve intestinal motility.

Answers to popular questions

Which doctor should I contact for cystitis?

You should contact three specialists: a urologist, a nephrologist and a gynecologist.

Is it possible to have sex with cystitis?Is it sexually transmitted?

Cystitis is an inflammatory disease of the bladder.Of course, it is simply impossible to get cystitis through sexual contact.

However, there is a high probability of transmitting the infectious agents that caused the cystitis to the partner.But it is necessary to make a reservation: the transmission of pathogenic microflora is possible only if the disease is of infectious origin.In all other cases, the partner is safe.

As for the other aspect of this issue, not everything is so simple.Most competent experts recommend that women abstain from sexual activity during illness.

However, if you cannot do without sexual contact, you need to follow the recommendations:

• Immediately before sex, wash your body and clean your hands well;
• Avoid touching the vagina.During cystitis, the mucous membrane is subjected to increased stress, since it is impossible to completely protect it from urine particles;
• If concomitant damage to the uterus is suspected, exclude deep penetration;
• At the end of intimacy, be sure to wash the external genitalia;
• Use barrier contraception (condoms only).

Cystitis after intimacy, what are the causes?

The development of cystitis after sex is not a far-fetched problem.Postcoital cystitis (also called “honeymoon syndrome”) occurs in approximately 45% of cases.As a rule, it is detected after the first sexual intercourse.

There are several reasons for this:

1. The most common, but at the same time the most difficult to eliminate, is a congenital anomaly of the genitourinary system;
2. Another common reason is lack of proper hygiene.The partner may not be aware of this even though there are many microorganisms on the surface of the penis.As a result, the woman's urethra is attacked by an infectious agent.This group of reasons also includes alternating vaginal and anal sex without changing condoms or without it.In this case, the causative agent of cystitis is the intestinal microflora (bacillus);
3. Vaginal dryness.Due to excessive dryness of the vaginal mucosa, tissue cracks occur.The result is colitis, which quickly causes the development of cystitis.In this case, cystitis becomes a secondary disease.Therefore, one cannot have sex if the woman's genitals do not have desire and sufficient hydration;
4. It is also worth remembering about sexually transmitted diseases.If the partner is sick or is a carrier, the woman quickly becomes infected and, in this case, there is a risk not only of developing a sexually transmitted disease itself, but also of secondary cystitis.

Is it possible to play sports with cystitis?

In this case, everything is purely individual and depends on the patient's condition and the severity of cystitis.However, a series of physical activities must be abandoned.

Avoid:

• Visits to fitness centers.Aerobics and exercise can cause mechanical irritation of the urethra and bladder and, as a result, symptoms will worsen significantly;
• Swimming.Swimming is permitted, but no more than 10-20 minutes.Prolonged exposure to cold water (30-50 minutes) can lead to local hypothermia.As a result of cooling, local immunity will decrease and within a few hours the symptoms of cystitis will become more pronounced;
• Winter sports.Almost all winter sports involve prolonged exposure to the cold.Under these conditions, the risk of developing hypothermia and worsening cystitis increases significantly.People who enjoy figure skating are advised to dress as warmly as possible, cover the pelvic and perineal area and never sit on the ice;
• Active sports associated with increased physical activity and a sharp increase in intra-abdominal pressure are excluded: boxing, wrestling, cycling.

However, there are several sports recommended for cystitis.They evenly strain the muscles of the body and do not cause significant fatigue.These are running, walking, basketball, volleyball.Dancing is also allowed.It is important to remember that clothes must be appropriate.It is harmful to wear tight and tight clothing.A sweater should not be tight;preference should be given to light, but at the same time warm clothing made from natural materials.

Is it possible to take a hot bath if I have cystitis?

In general, the topic is very controversial.To answer this, we must again start from the patient's current condition and the course of the disease.You can take warm baths (warm, but not hot) only at the stage when cystitis has not yet manifested itself with specific symptoms.In this case, light warming is not only not contraindicated, but also useful.

As soon as one of the following symptoms appears, thermal procedures are strictly contraindicated:

1. Muscle spasms (sharp pain and cramping in the lower abdomen and pubic area);
2. Burning and burning when urinating;
3. Blood or pus in the urine.

If we talk only about the initial stages of the disease, heating is allowed, but it should be used only within reasonable limits:

• Warming with dry heat.Salt is heated in a container to 38-40 degrees, placed in a fabric bag and applied to the wound;
• Foot baths.The basin is filled with warm water, after which you should take a foot bath for 10 to 20 minutes.Then the feet are dried and warm socks are put on;
• Sitz baths.In the early stages of the development of cystitis, you can take a sitz bath with the addition of medicinal herbs.In this case, the water temperature should not exceed 37 degrees and the duration of the bath should be up to 10 minutes.Even hot bathing is prohibited in cases where organs other than the bladder are affected;
• Hot shower.The best way to alleviate cystitis is to carry out hygiene procedures during the course of the disease;
• Warming your hands with heat.A palm is placed on the bladder area for several hours;
• Heated compress with eucalyptus oil.Effective in the absence of acute symptoms.But it is contraindicated for allergies.

Can menstruation be delayed due to cystitis?

There is no direct cause and effect relationship between cystitis and menstrual irregularities.However, as mentioned earlier, cystitis in women rarely occurs only with bladder damage.As the infection increases, it often affects the genitals, including the uterus and ovaries located in the abdominal cavity.

The ovaries are responsible for producing estrogen, a specific female hormone, which in itself helps to normalize the menstrual cycle.When the infection spreads to the ovaries, estrogen production decreases.As a result, the cycle is disrupted and then a delay in menstruation is possible.