Cystitis is a disease that affects the urinary system of the female or male body. This pathology literally means an inflammatory process in the bladder, specifically in its wall. Many people wonder if men have cystitis, as this pathology is more typical for women. However, men are also susceptible to this disease.
The difference between male and female cystitis is not only in the frequency of the lesion, but also in the reasons for its occurrence. If in women the pathology usually develops initially, in men the inflammatory process occurs as a complication of some other disease.
The pathogens that cause cystitis in men and women can be different. Most often, inflammation is caused by the bacteria Escherichia coli, but instead, Staphylococcus, Proteus and various protozoa, for example Trichomonas, can settle on the bladder wall. A separate class is composed of sexually transmitted infection pathogens, the complications of which can be cystitis.
Etiology
The causes of symptoms of cystitis in women are:
- Any untreated (or prematurely detected) diseases of the genitourinary system are often inflammatory in nature (specific, eg, venereal and non-specific);
- Chronic pathologies of any of the body's systems (especially in the acute phase);
- Hypothermia (meaning not so much general as local in the genital area and pelvic organs, eg sitting on cold concrete);
- Professions that require a long-term stay (office positions and others);
- Chronic stool disorders (constipation);
- Inadequate personal hygiene of the genitals;
- Experiments in sex life (meaning the switch from anal to vaginal contact without first changing condoms or water procedures on the part of the partner);
- Tight and synthetic underwear, as well as jeans, tights, pants;
- Insufficient number of urinations per day (at least 5 times normal);
- Failure to follow personal hygiene during menstruation is one of the most common causes of cystitis in women;
- Immunodeficiency states of any genesis (either primary immunodeficiencies or impaired immunity caused by stress, excessive physical exertion).
Unlike women in the male body, proper observance of the rules of intimate hygiene is often a sufficient measure to prevent inflammation. And even in this case, cystitis can occur as a complication of advanced urethritis. However, there are a number of factors that trigger pathology.
Causes of cystitis symptoms in men:
- Inflammatory processes (acute and chronic) in the prostate gland, urethra, testes and their annexes;
- Abnormalities of the anatomical structure of the urethra (eg, strictures) that cause stagnation of urine;
- Urolithiasis or foreign bodies entering the urinary system;
- The presence of venereal inflammatory pathologies (gonorrhea is especially complicated by cystitis);
- Pyelonephritis or tuberculosis of the kidneys (damage is due to the descending path of infection);
- Inflammatory processes in the body of a man (rarely);
- Damage to the organs of the urinary system or directly to the bladder;
- Diagnostic and therapeutic manipulations performed incorrectly on the organs of the genitourinary system;
- Diabetes is a dangerous predisposing factor.
Symptoms
Despite the etiological differences in the development of the inflammatory process, the clinical picture of the disease in both sexes is not different. Signs of cystitis in men and women:
- Frequent (and often false) urge to urinate;
- Pain when urinating (burning or cramping pain, intense, short, characterized by increased amplitude at the end of urination);
- Pain of a permanent nature (in women in the lower abdomen and in men in the penis or pubis)
- Decreased amount of urine with a single urination;
- Subfebrile temperature and general signs of the inflammatory process (weakness, fatigue, pallor, dizziness) are characteristic of bacterial cystitis.
Since this pathology is characterized by a chronic form of cystitis, it should be clarified that the clinical picture in these cases will be blurry. All the above symptoms will be pronounced only during periods of exacerbation. In remission, patients may experience pain in the abdomen or groin, or frequent urination.
Classification
In addition to the acute and chronic forms of the disease, there are also different types of cystitis.
- Bacterial (or infectious) cystitis. This form can be specific or non-specific. The disease is caused by infectious agents, mainly bacteria. Pathology-specific options are sexually transmitted diseases that can be complicated by symptoms of cystitis in both men and women.
- Interstitial cystitis. This form is caused by agents not of an infectious nature, but of a mechanical or chemical nature. In this case, all layers of the bladder are affected until the appearance of perforated ulcers. Factors that can cause illness are injuries, chemicals, physical influences.
- radiation cystitis. This form of cystitis stands out as a separate form due to the specifics of the occurrence. In essence, the type of radiation is considered interstitial, but it does not occur due to accidental exposure to a factor, but in the treatment of oncological diseases. To a greater extent, this applies to the occurrence of symptoms of acute or chronic cystitis in men as their pelvic organs are often exposed to radiation due to prostate cancer.
- Hemorrhagic cystitis. In fact, this form is a complication of common cystitis and is characterized by bloody impurities in the urine that come from the bladder. Impurities can be either microscopic, that is, invisible to the eyes, or abundant (hematuria).
illness during pregnancy
Cystitis in pregnant women in the early and late stages is a serious pathology that requires high-quality treatment. Women are more prone to bladder inflammation than men due to anatomical features, however, pregnant women are at risk for several additional reasons:
- Reduce the body's resistance to infectious pathogens;
- Insufficient bladder nutrition due to pressure from a large uterus on the blood vessels that supply it;
- Hormonal changes.
It is congestion and reduced immunity that lead to the development of cystitis during pregnancy. The main characteristic of the inflammatory process in pregnant women is its asymptomatic course, which is not always the case, but still occurs. Therefore, a routine examination of a woman should be thorough and aimed at identifying hidden pathologies. Treatment of cystitis during pregnancy is necessary but difficult as taking strong antibiotics can adversely affect the fetus.
Therefore, in this situation, they try to limit themselves to local therapy in the form of instillations. If this does not help, antibiotics are prescribed, which are the least dangerous for the fetus.
Manifestation after sex
The most common cause of cystitis after intimacy is the anatomical feature of the location of the urethra in the female body. If it opens the day before the vagina, the infection is greatly simplified. Among the causes of cystitis after sex, scarring changes in tissues after deprivation of virginity in a girl are also highlighted.
Such adhesive formations have a mechanical effect on the urethra and prevent its closure. Hormonal changes also contribute to the fact that women develop cystitis after sex, as the protective properties of all the mucous membranes in the body are weakened. Sexual abstinence is a risk factor for cystitis after intercourse, and the longer there is no sex, the more likely it is that cystitis will show up the next time you get close.
Diagnosis
A vivid clinical picture in acute cystitis is a sufficient indicator to make a diagnosis, for chronic or erased forms of the disease, several studies are prescribed. To identify signs of cystitis in women and men, use:
- Clinical blood test (to detect the inflammatory process);
- Urinalysis (to detect leukocytes or microhematuria);
- Bacterial urine culture (the causative agent is determined and an antibiotic sensitivity test done immediately)
- Studies for the detection of venereal pathology (serological studies, PCR);
- Specific urine studies;
- Cystoscopy (done as a last resort with running processes).
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, prompt treatment of cystitis should be initiated.
Treatment
The mainstay of treatment of this inflammatory disease is antibacterial drugs (if the pathology is caused by an infectious agent). Preparations for cystitis in women and men must be highly sensitive to the pathogen, therefore, a special test is carried out in advance. Yes, its results apply antibacterial pills for cystitis in women and men with broad spectrum of action. In addition to drugs for the treatment of cystitis in women, colagol instillations are highly effective.
This therapy is acceptable for pregnant girls where antibiotics cannot be used and as an additional treatment in advanced cases. Herbal preparations are widely used for cystitis in women and men, or otherwise herbal remedies. They are used along with antibiotics or if the cystitis is mild and does not require intensive treatment.
Symptomatic medications for cystitis in men and women are antispasmodics that relieve pain. Or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which relieve pain and also reduce inflammation in the bladder.
To avoid side effects of antibiotics for cystitis in men and especially in women, probiotics are prescribed. In women, the correct microflora of the vagina is important, therefore, it is necessary to take these drugs.
If the inflammatory process was caused by any primary pathology, then the basis of how to cure cystitis will be to get rid of this disease. Of particular importance is the treatment of prostate lesions in men and sexually transmitted infections in both sexes. For the further treatment of chronic cystitis in women and men, physiotherapy procedures are used. They are prescribed after getting rid of the severity of the process or during periods of remission.