According to statistics, cystitis in women is much more common 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 when urinating, frequent urination and pain in the lower abdomen.
Cystitis is a common disease of the excretory system. It is largely due to the peculiarities of the anatomical structure, which is why cystitis in women is much more common than in men.
What are the causes and first signs 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 about it?
Cystitis in women: is it necessary to make an appointment with a doctor?
Cystitis in women can be caused by various infectious diseases, helminthic invasions, stones in the bladder, the onset of menopause, disturbances in the endocrine system and taking certain drugs. In addition, there is interstitial cystitis, the exact mechanism of which is still unclear.
It should also be noted that cystitis in women can be acute and chronic. The chronic form is characterized both by frequent relapses of the disease and by a slow, continuous manifestation of symptoms.
So that the disease does not become a constant source of discomfort, it is necessary to make an appointment with a doctor at the first signs of the disease and undergo the necessary treatment. All you need to do for this is to call the profile clinic. Specialists who deal with this problem are urologists and gynecologists. Although even a general practitioner can treat an uncomplicated form of the disease.
To diagnose cystitis in women, they usually take a urine test, a smear from the urethra and vagina. In the chronic form of the disease, it is also recommended to be examined for the possible presence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
In addition, in some cases, additional examinations are necessary, for which you will need to make an appointment with a nephrologist, do an ultrasound of the pelvis or a cystoscopy.
The insidiousness of this disease is that the treatment of cystitis is usually quite easy and the unpleasant symptoms disappear quickly. That is why many women prefer to self-medicate by buying advertised antibacterial drugs in pharmacies.
However, the lack of appropriate therapy, its short duration and the wrong choice of drugs contribute to the transition of the disease into a chronic form, which, in turn, is difficult to treat. That is why you should not take risks and use the advice of friends when choosing drugs - it is better to call your doctor by phone and make an appointment. It should be remembered that timely treatment will not only avoid chronic cystitis, but also save other organs from the spread of infection.
What symptoms of cystitis cause the most discomfort?
Signs of acute cystitis in women always appear suddenly. They include:
- frequent and strong urge to urinate;
- increased content of leukocytes in the urine and a change in its smell;
- the presence of traces of blood in the urine;
- cutting pain in lower abdomen;
- burning and pain during urination;
- increase in body temperature.
These symptoms develop very quickly. Approximately every quarter of an hour, a woman must visit the toilet, and the amount of urine during each visit is minimal. In addition, spasm of the bladder muscles can lead to urinary incontinence.
Cystitis tends to recur. 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 occurs quite moderately. The frequency of going to the toilet also does not change. In general, a person can lead a normal life and attend work (study).
Methods of prevention and treatment of cystitis
To learn about the possible ways to prevent and treat cystitis in the fair sex, it is necessary to determine the main causes of the disease. They include:
- structural features of the urethra in women (it is shorter and wider than in men);
- hormonal fluctuations (pregnancy, menopause), which disrupt the balance of the microflora and weaken the strength of local immunity;
- infection of the urinary system (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 concomitant disease with diabetes mellitus or urolithiasis. By the way, this disease is impossible to "win" from hypothermia. And similar symptoms signal the development of polyuria (cold diuresis).
Therefore, the first thing you should do when you are 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 relieve most of the unpleasant symptoms during the first days.
Also, the treatment of cystitis includes taking painkillers and antipyretics. Doctors recommend during the therapy to observe a sufficient drinking regime, which will speed up recovery (bacteria will be washed out of the body faster with urine).
Experts do not tire of warning that it is dangerous to self-medicate this disease. In fact, many diseases of the genitourinary system have symptoms similar to bacterial cystitis, which cannot be cured with a single antimicrobial drug. As a result, you can lose valuable time and face a serious health threat.
The measures to prevent this disease are:
- personal hygiene (daily change of underwear, frequent change of bandages, as well as regular shower);
- wearing properly selected underwear made of natural materials;
- timely treatment of all existing diseases of the genitourinary system;
- a mandatory visit to the toilet and shower after intercourse.
If the attack was caught while traveling or on vacation, before seeking medical help, you should try to avoid hypothermia, drink more fluids, limit the consumption of spicy and salty foods, as well as alcohol.
If you have chronic cystitis, before a long trip you should visit your doctor and discuss with him a set of medicines that you should take with you on the road. And also get (if possible) his phone number for emergency communication.