Cystitis is a fairly common disease that doctors often deal with. By the way, according to statistical studies, the fair sex is more susceptible to this disease. Quite natural is the question of what causes cystitis in women and what factors can provoke the disease. Patients are also interested in the methods of diagnosis and treatment offered by modern medicine.
What is "cystitis"?
Before considering why women often have cystitis, it is worth understanding what this disease is. Cystitis is a disease that is accompanied by an inflammatory process in the walls of the bladder.
It is believed that this is a kind of "women's disease". Naturally, men are also prone to this kind of disease, but 80% of patients with this diagnosis are precisely the fair sex aged 20 to 40 years. What causes cystitis in women and why are they so susceptible to the disease? Here, the features of the female anatomy matter, because the anus and vagina are located veryclose to the urethra, and the channel itself is wider and not as long as in men, which is why the infection from the outside penetrates into the urinary organs much more often.
Why do women get cystitis? The main causes of the disease
Many patients face this diagnosis. But before considering the methods of treatment, it is worth knowing what causes cystitis in women. In most cases, inflammation develops against the background of the activity of a bacterial infection. Pathogenic microorganisms can enter the tissues of the reproductive system from the external environment, or they can spread from other foci of inflammation.
In fact, there are a huge number of factors that can provoke an inflammatory process in the bladder:
- Previously transmitted infectious diseases with chronic or acute course. It can be salpingitis, pyelonephritis, urethritis, adnexitis, sexually transmitted diseases.
- Anatomical features of the female genitourinary system, such as strictures.
- Cancer diseases can also interfere with the normal flow of urine, causing it to stagnate, which, accordingly, creates ideal conditions for the reproduction of bacteria.
- Severe hypothermia of the body.
- Decrease in immune activity, including during pregnancy.
- "Sedentary" work, since in this position stagnation of urine and other fluids in the small pelvis is often observed.
- The presence of chronic foci of infection, including, for example, caries, chronic tonsillitis and rhinitis.
- Diabetes mellitus, which affects the immune system.
- Constant stress and nervous strain (affect the state of immunity).
- Taking drugs that suppress the activity of the immune system.
- Failure to comply with the norms of intimate hygiene.
- Chronic lack of sleep, malnutrition.
- Old age.
- Early onset of sexual activity, frequent change of partners.
- Genital injuries and injury to the lower back.
It is very important to know what causes cystitis in women. Treatment in most cases depends on the underlying cause. This is why a thorough diagnosis is so important.
Classification: what types of illness exist?
In modern medicine, there are several classification schemes for this disease. So what happens to cystitis in women? Depending on the cause, they are distinguished:
- Infectious cystitis caused by the activity of pathogenic fungi, bacteria and viruses.
- Non-infectious inflammation can be triggered by an allergic reaction, medication or exposure to toxins, radiation therapy.
Depending on the type of infection, cystitis is divided into:
- Specific, which is caused by the penetration into the body of pathogens of chlamydia, gonorrhea, ureaplasmosis.
- Nonspecific cystitis - caused by the activation of conditionally pathogenic microflora of a woman's body, for example, Escherichia coli, staphylococci, streptococci.
Depending on the course, acute and chronic forms are distinguishedailment. Cystitis can be primary or secondary (occurs as a complication of another disease).
Main symptoms of the disease
Now you know what causes cystitis in women. But, of course, you should also familiarize yourself with its main symptoms, because the sooner you notice the signs and consult a doctor, the easier the therapy process will be.
Acute forms of the disease have a very characteristic clinical picture. One of the most common signs include frequent urge to urinate (sometimes every 10-15 minutes). At the same time, not so much urine is released, and the process of urination is accompanied by cuts and severe pain. Many women complain of pain in the suprapubic region - it can occur during urination or be present all the time.
Urine tends to become cloudy. Often you can see white flakes in it, impurities of pus or even blood. Some patients develop lower back pain (this usually indicates the spread of the inflammatory process to the kidneys). There are also symptoms of the inflammatory process, in particular, fever, chills, weakness and fatigue, body aches.
Modern diagnostic methods
If you have symptoms, be sure to see a specialist. To begin with, the doctor collects an anamnesis. Patients are shown a gynecological examination, as well as a consultation with a general practitioner and a urologist. Diagnosis includes several laboratory tests, in particular, a smear from the vagina to determine the microflora. You also need to submit samples.blood and urine - this is how you can detect the presence of an inflammatory process in the body.
Bacteriological culture is mandatory to isolate the pathogen and test its sensitivity to antibacterial agents. Next, an ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs is performed. Sometimes doctors additionally prescribe cystoscopy (it makes it possible to assess the condition of the bladder from the inside) and urography.
How is cystitis treated? Medical Therapy
In the process of diagnosis, it is very important to determine what causes cystitis in women. Treatment directly depends on the cause of the development of the inflammatory process and the general condition of the patient's body.
Therapy in this case must be complex. If cystitis is caused by the activity of bacterial microorganisms (which occurs in 80% of cases), then the patient is prescribed antibacterial agents. Preference is given to protected penicillins, as well as cephalosporins of the second and third generations - these are Monural, Azithromycin, Ciprofloxacin. The treatment regimen necessarily includes uroseptic drugs, in particular, Furagin, Canephron. For cystitis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often used, such as Ibuprofen, Ibufen, Nurofen, Paracetamol. Sometimes, to alleviate the patient's condition, "No-shpa" is used, which relieves spasm of smooth muscles. Since antibiotics negatively affect the beneficial microflora, probiotics are used to protect it, in particular Bifiform, Lineks, Acipol.
Other speciestreatments and helpful tips
In some cases, along with conservative therapy, women are also recommended thermal procedures. It is recommended to give up s alty and spicy foods, spices, chocolate and coffee for the duration of treatment. It is also important to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
Physiotherapy is usually used in the treatment of chronic forms of cystitis. And in such cases, mud applications, UHF procedures, electrophoresis with the use of drugs, iontophoresis (antiseptics and nitrofurans are used) are effective.
Possible complications of the disease
Now you know what causes cystitis in women (with blood). Treatment in most cases goes smoothly. Complications develop if the therapy was carried out incorrectly or was completely absent.
Infection can spread to other tissues, in particular, to the muscular layer of the bladder - this form of cystitis is already much harder to treat. The inflammatory process often passes to other organs of the genitourinary system, provoking the development of nephritis and other diseases. The most dangerous complications include bladder rupture followed by peritonitis - fortunately, this is extremely rare in modern medicine.
Why do women get cystitis after sex?
Quite often inflammation of the bladder develops in the fair sex after just after intercourse. Among the people, this phenomenon even has its own name - “honeymoon syndrome”. Often, cystitis develops immediately after the first sexual experience, as there is a change in the usual microflora of the vagina.
Why do women often get cystitis after sex? In fact, there can be many reasons. For example, not all partners adhere to the rules of hygiene before and after intercourse (this applies not only to women, but also to men). Tissue infection can occur due to the rejection of condoms. Prolonged sexual intercourse, especially in the absence of sufficient lubrication, injures the vaginal mucosa, which creates excellent conditions for the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms and their migration through the genitourinary system. Risk factors should also include the use of those contraceptives that change the normal composition of vaginal discharge.
Is home treatment reasonable?
Today, many patients are interested in the question of what causes cystitis in women and how to treat it at home. To date, a huge number of folk recipes are known, but it should be understood that you can use any means only after consulting a doctor. The inept use of homemade recipes can lead to a host of unpleasant and dangerous consequences.
Heat treatments are often recommended to help relieve soreness. For example, you can put a heating pad on the lower abdomen or prepare a sitz bath from the decoction.medicinal plants (suitable sage, chamomile flowers, succession grass). Red rowan bark tea is considered useful (100 g of bark should be boiled in a liter of water).
Echinacea can be helpful. By itself, this remedy cannot cure cystitis, but the tincture of this plant stimulates the activity of the immune system, which speeds up the healing process.
Prevention of cystitis: useful tips for women
Now you know what causes cystitis in women and how to treat it. But, you must admit, it is much easier to prevent the development of the disease than to undergo therapy and cope with the consequences. There is no specific prophylactic, but women are advised to follow certain rules.
As you know, quite often infections become the cause of inflammation, which is why patients are advised to adhere to the rules of personal hygiene, refuse to wear panties - thongs and any too tight underwear. It is very important to use condoms during sexual intercourse. Avoid hypothermia and dress according to the weather. Women are also advised to follow hygiene rules and undergo routine medical examinations.
