Cystitis Treatment

Cystitis is a type of urinary tract infection that causes inflammation in the bladder. While it can cause pain, it’s not usually a serious condition and can often clear up on its own. Cystitis affects both men and women, but is more common in women as they have a shorter urinary tract. This means they’re more susceptible to infections as bacteria do not have to travel as far.  

The condition is very common, affecting around 50 to 60% of women at some point in their lives. In men, it’s most common for those over the age of 50, as urine flow at this age is often weaker. While cystitis can go away on its own, it’s important not to ignore the symptoms. This is because it can lead to kidney infections or prostatitis if left untreated. 

Cystitis may be a one-off occurrence or could happen several times a year, depending on your health and general lifestyle. It’s important to maintain good personal hygiene, for example, women should wipe from front to back when going to the toilet. Likewise, staying hydrated promotes a good flow of urine to remove bacteria from the urinary tract. 

Many people will get cystitis at some point in their lives and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. The condition can clear itself up after a few days or you may be prescribed a three-day course of antibiotics. It’s important to be extra vigilant if an elderly person or child has cystitis. In older people, look for symptoms such as confusion or irritability. Younger people may have a reduced appetite and high temperature. Both younger and older people may lose bladder control. 

Cystitis has many causes depending on your lifestyle. Most often, cystitis is a bacterial infection. There are many types of bacteria that live harmlessly on your skin or in your bowels. If these cross over into the urinary tract, they can infect the bladder and cause inflammation. 

This could happen for many reasons, for example, if women don’t wipe from front to back after a bowel movement. It may also be caused by sexual activity, particularly if women don’t urinate after sex. As the distance between the anus and urethra is much shorter in women, they’re more likely to get infections.  

Other causes include wearing tight clothing or underwear that could promote bacterial growth. Similarly, contraceptives like diaphragms or spermicide may make cystitis worse. 

Some health conditions such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes or a weakened immune system may increase the risk of bacteria spreading. People who are pregnant, elderly, or have been through the menopause are also at higher risk. 

It’s important to stay hydrated to prevent cystitis. This encourages regular urination which helps to flush bacteria from the urinary tract. You should empty your bladder fully every time you pee, and change period products frequently.  While good personal hygiene is important, women should take care not to use scented or perfumed products when washing their intimate area. This can upset the delicate PH balance and lead to irritation and discomfort.  

Symptoms of cystitis usually present when you go to the toilet. You may notice a painful burning or stinging sensation when you urinate, or your pee may be a dark colour. Generally, it should be a straw colour or lighter. It should not be cloudy or have a strong smell. If it does, there may be a urinary tract infection. 

You might also notice that you need to urinate more often, or that you haven’t fully emptied your bladder when you do go. In some cases, you might feel pain in your lower abdomen, or you may feel generally run down and unwell. 

Children with cystitis may have a high temperature (above 38°C/100.4°F). They may also feel weak and irritable. In some cases, they may refuse food or vomit. Irritability is also common in elderly patients with cystitis, particularly if they wear a catheter. They may become confused and agitated or begin to shiver and shake. Both younger and older people may lose control of their bladders. 

If you’re looking for cystitis treatment, your doctor may advise that you wait for 48 hours. This is because your body can often fight the bacterial infection itself. If symptoms still haven’t cleared up, then you’ll be recommended a short course of antibiotics. You can also take painkillers and cranberry supplements to relieve discomfort.  

You can get a cystitis diagnosis with a urine sample, though this is not always necessary. Your doctor may recommend you wait for symptoms to pass before taking antibiotics, as the body can fight it on its own. However, if you’re pregnant or looking after elderly people or children, you should take extra care. The good news is that it’s completely treatable and preventable. 

If you’re generally a healthy adult, you can wait for the infection to clear up on its own. During this time, you can take over-the-counter pain medications such as paracetamol to ease burning and stinging. You can also try cranberry supplements. These help to reduce infections by preventing bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder. Other medicines that help to relieve symptoms include oral sachets. These help to make your urine less acidic, which can reduce irritation when you go to the toilet.  

Your doctor may recommend a short course of antibiotics to clear up any bacterial infections. These may include Trimethoprim, which helps to kill bacteria in a matter of days. If you get recurrent cystitis infections, you may also be prescribed a long-term, low-dose antibiotic. Women who have gone through the menopause can also try vaginal oestrogen creams. People with recurrent infections should look for triggers such as sexual activity. Our Online Doctor consultation can help you by suggesting treatments for these, such as single-dose antibiotics. 

You can relieve and prevent cystitis by making small lifestyle changes. If you can’t take antibiotics, try oral sachets or cranberry juice and supplements. These will help to stop bacteria from sticking to the walls of your bladder to ward off infections. Make sure you stay hydrated so that you’re urinating frequently. Ideally you should drink water rather than alcohol, caffeinated drinks or fizzy drinks, as these may irritate the bladder. 

To prevent cystitis, you need to discourage bacterial growth in the urinary tract. For women, this includes wiping from front to back to stop bacteria being transferred from the back passage. Make sure you change sanitary products and internal contraceptives like diaphragms regularly. Try not to wear clothing that’s too tight around the genital area, and avoid perfumed soaps. If you’re sexually active, it’s best to urinate as soon as you can after sex to help prevent infection. 

Men should also be aware of cystitis as it can lead to prostatitis if left untreated. This is particularly important if you’re over 50. Again, staying hydrated is essential, while cranberry-based products can prevent infections. Both men and women should avoid having sex until after cystitis symptoms have cleared up. 

Whatever your age or sex, you should always see a doctor if you notice a temperature, sickness or confusion. 

While cystitis is a urinary tract infection (UTI), there are key differences. Cystitis only affects the bladder, whereas a UTI can affect any part of the urinary tract. This means that UTIs can also impact the urethra (the tube that passes urine out of the body), the bladder, the kidneys and the ureter (the tubes that pass urine from the kidneys to the bladder). 

Urinary tract infections are categorised into lower or upper UTIs. A lower UTI may be urethritis, affecting the urethra, or cystitis. These are often mild and may not always need antibiotics. With upper UTIs, the ureters or kidneys may be affected. These are often more serious as they can cause kidney infections, and should be treated with antibiotics. 

The other key difference is that cystitis is not always caused by a bacterial infection. It may be an imbalance in your body’s natural PH, for example, if you’ve had cancer treatments or used harsh soap products. In these cases, you may not need antibiotics. 

If you’re not sure whether you have cystitis or a UTI, try our Online Doctor service. Our simple questionnaire will help you to identify your symptoms. Generally, more serious upper UTIs will present with nausea and diarrhoea, fever, loss of appetite and pain. In milder cases like lower UTIs, symptoms are usually restricted to painful or more frequent urination. Be mindful of blood in your urine and always speak to your doctor if you’re not sure. 

Pharmacy2U delivers its online doctor service in partnership with trusted third-party providers to ensure high-quality care and service.

• Prescriptions filled through our service will be dispensed by a pharmacy within the Pharmacy2U Group, which includes both Pharmacy2U Limited and Metabolic Healthcare Limited (MHL). The pharmacy responsible for dispensing and dispatching your medication will be clearly indicated on the dispensing label, ensuring transparency and accountability in the provision of your care.

• Metabolic Healthcare Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Pharmacy2U Limited, registered in England and Wales (company number 09668487) with its registered address at Lumina Park Approach, Thorpe Park, Leeds, England, LS15 8GB. It is regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) under registration number 9011437.

• Pharmacy2U Limited is a company registered in England and Wales with its registered address at Lumina Park Approach, Thorpe Park, Leeds, England, LS15 8GB. It is regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) under registration number 9010146.

Metabolic Healthcare Limited (MHL) is a part of the Pharmacy2U Group, providing pharmacy services within the group. MHL operates under the trading name LloydsDirect, a registered pharmacy and a trusted brand in the UK for dispensing and dispatching prescribed medications. It is regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) under registration number 9011437.