female cystitis

What is female cystitis?— One of the most common urinary tract disorders is cystitis.This is an inflammation of the bladder wall that most commonly affects 80 percent of women.According to statistics, the prevalence of this disease among women within a year is as high as 36 million.For men, these numbers are several times lower.

Almost every woman experiences unpleasant symptoms of this disease at least once in her life.This is explained by structural features of the urinary system.The diameter of the urethra is larger and shorter than in men, and the close proximity of the vagina and anus allows pathogens to quickly penetrate into the bladder lumen.Cystitis that occurs in women aged 16 to 65 years without other pathological changes in the urinary system is called uncomplicated cystitis.Treatment is successfully performed on an outpatient basis (at home).

Causes of cystitis in women

Basically, the nature of the disease is contagious.There are many pathogens, but the main one is E. coli.Sometimes cystitis occurs in the context of other diseases related to urology and gynecology.Factors that may trigger inflammation:

• Hypothermia of the body.Groups at risk include girls and women who prefer to wear clothing that is not suitable for the weather, such as tights that are too thin, short skirts in cold weather.
• Neglect of genital hygiene.This is often the cause of cystitis in girls.
• Neurogenic bladder problems occur not only in children but in adults as well.Associated with impaired voluntary urination.Girls are more likely than boys to be diagnosed with the disorder due to increased sensitivity of bladder receptors.The result is organ malnutrition, which leads to the rapid development of pathogenic microbiota and causes inflammation.
• Hormonal changes in women during pregnancy and metabolic disorders caused by diabetes can cause cystitis.
• Wearing clothes that are too tight, narrow, and uncomfortable can cause a disruption in the blood supply to the urinary system organs.
• Radiation therapy for pelvic tumors may cause inflammation.
• Estrogen deficiency, changes in mucous membranes during menopause.
• Injury to the bladder wall during various endoscopic surgeries.
• In girls, manifestations of cystitis occur during first sexual intercourse.The cause is an injury to the bladder wall that allows microbiota to pass from the vagina into the urethra.Therefore, an active and intense sexual life, when the risk of infection is high, may also contribute to the occurrence of the disease.

Under the influence of these factors, pathogenic microbiota develop, leading to inflammation and unpleasant symptoms.

Clinical picture of cystitis

The disease in women appears suddenly within a short time following the action of predisposing factors (hypothermia, infection, injury).

The first and main symptom is usually urinary frequency – frequent urination.This was observed to be a result of increased tension in the bladder wall due to inflammation.

Needing to go to the bathroom dozens of times a day, every 15 to 20 minutes.Each volume of urine becomes smaller and smaller.Conversely, some patients experience urinary retention (due to sphincter spasm) or urinary incontinence (if the organ of the cervix is affected).

The woman experiences severe pain in her lower abdomen that transfers to her perineum.The greatest discomfort is felt when emptying the bladder.It is painful when it occurs, with pain and a burning sensation.An unpleasant sensation may occur at the beginning and end of the urinary process.

One of the persistent symptoms is leukocyturia.The color of the urine changes and becomes cloudy, mixed with pus and blood.With significant hematuria, they thought it was a form of hemorrhagic cystitis.

The woman's overall health deteriorates, she develops weakness and malaise, and her body temperature may rise to 38°C.

Classification of cystitis

In medicine, it is customary to distinguish types of diseases based on their course, causes of formation, stages of development, morphological changes and the prevalence of inflammatory processes.The generally accepted classification divides cystitis in women into the following types:

• Hemorrhagic.The pathological causes are the activities of viruses, bacteria, and fungi.Urine contains blood and can range in color from pink to brown depending on the amount of blood.If left untreated, iron deficiency anemia may develop, followed by systemic infection due to blood clots blocking pathways.
• Interstitial.This inflammation is non-contagious and occurs more often in young women.The reason is a lack of glycosaminoglycans, which causes inflammation.It is characterized by severe cutting pain and frequent urges, mostly at night.If you are sexually active, the disease will progress.
• Radiation cystitis.Occurs after radiation used to treat tumors.The surgery affects the sensitivity of the bladder, causing bladder wall deformation and organ dysfunction.
• Catarrhal cystitis.In addition to blood, stones, sand, and increased levels of calcium salts were found in the urine.Reduced bladder capacity.
• Crust.The affected mucosa is covered with salt and fibrin.Treatment with medications is not always effective.Optimum therapeutic results can be achieved through surgical intervention.
• Cervical cystitis.Named based on location - inflammation develops in the neck of the bladder.It is characterized by damage to the mucous membranes and the sphincter muscles that regulate urination.Women often experience false urges, perineal and lower abdominal pain.Laboratory analysis of urine shows high levels of pathogenic microorganisms.

The type of disease can only be determined after a thorough examination.

Acute and chronic cystitis

Differences in the course of the disease make it possible to distinguish its different forms.

acute cystitis

It progresses rapidly and is characterized by pronounced symptoms - dysuria (dysuria), leukocyturia, and terminal hematuria.Women frequently experience urges that cause discomfort and severe pain.Difficulty urinating after 5-10 minutes, causing the urge to go to the toilet and the amount of urine excreted is very small.

chronic cystitis

The symptoms are similar to those of the acute form.Exacerbations of the disease occur one or more times throughout the year.Symptoms include frequent urination, painful urination, and severe pain in the pubic area.The characteristics of chronic cystitis are:

• Nocturia – the urge to urinate at night;
• Dysuria is a constant desire to empty the bladder.

In the remission phase, symptoms are slow, insignificant, or disappear completely.

diagnosis

Early detection of cystitis allows you to start treatment promptly and prevent the disease from becoming chronic and causing other complications.Laboratory and instrumental studies help establish an accurate diagnosis.They include: general urine test, bacterial culture, vaginal smear test.If necessary, ultrasound, cystoscopy, and cystography may be performed.

The main and mandatory research method is urinalysis.With its help, it is possible to determine the extent of the inflammatory process and the type of causative agent of the disease.With a general analysis, you can determine how high the number of white blood cells and red blood cells is.The composition contains urate, mucus and bacteriuria.In the presence of inflammation, the urine appears cloudy and may appear reddish.

An accurate diagnosis is not always possible based on laboratory methods alone.In these cases, doctors prescribe cystoscopy - a method that can assess the condition of the bladder and the presence of stones, tumors, ulcers and foreign bodies in the bladder.Ultrasound is used to determine the condition of the organ walls.

treatment plan

Getting rid of cystitis is not difficult if you follow all your doctor's instructions.The cause of the exacerbation, the type of causative agent, and the presence of concomitant diseases are taken into consideration when formulating a treatment plan.For bacterial cystitis, it includes:

• Antimicrobial treatment.
• Take antispasmodic medicine.
• Special diet.
• Herbal medicine, using traditional medicine.

In addition to the above methods, physical therapy and installation are also required for recurrent cystitis.It is recommended that menopausal women use hormonal creams containing estrogen.Herbal sitz baths can help improve health and relieve uncomfortable symptoms.

drug treatment

Timely and effective treatment can completely eliminate inflammation and restore the mucous membrane.

To relieve pain, take antispasmodic medications.Natural preparations for treating cystitis have analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.Bioactive substances in its composition have beneficial effects on the urinary tract and kidneys.

Given the bacterial nature of the disease, the use of antibiotics is a mandatory step in treatment.Prescription takes into account the type of cystitis causative agent, extent of absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, rate of elimination from the body, and side effects.Modern drugs are able to stay in the affected organ, thereby increasing their effectiveness and thus shortening the course of treatment.

traditional healing methods

Our great-grandmothers knew very well what cystitis was and they used various traditional medicines to eliminate its unpleasant and painful symptoms.

Bilberry Treatment

They use berries and plant leaves harvested in early spring until the nutrients and beneficial substances are transferred to the flowers and fruits.In folk medicine, there are many recipes for bilberries:

• Pour boiling water over the berries (2 cups of water per 150 g), leave for an hour and drink 0.5 cup 3 times a day.
• Crush the leaves of the plant, pour into a pot, add cold water and put on the fire.After boiling, take it out, decoct it for a while, and take it before meals, 3 times a day for three months.60 g of raw material requires 1 liter of water.
• For preventive purposes, it is recommended to use lingonberry jam and fruit drinks in the diet.

It is worth noting that bilberries, along with urine, wash away potassium and calcium that women need for health and beauty.It is important to use lingonberry decoction to enrich the diet with products that supplement essential micronutrients (cheese, pumpkin, parsley).

Chamomile treats cystitis

The plant is not only used in teas and decoctions.Chamomile applied topically is also effective in fighting cystitis.Infusion is used for flushing.Chamomile decoction restores damaged mucous membranes, cleans the inner surface of the bladder from infection and improves blood circulation.

bear fruit

The plant is known for its diuretic and antibacterial effects.Make a 30 ml infusion from the leaves.Pour 30 grams of crushed raw material into a cup of boiling water, leave for 45 minutes and then filter.

Conventional medicine treats cystitis in addition to pharmacological treatments.Use them only after consulting your doctor.

You can avoid this disease if you follow certain rules: avoid hypothermia, maintain hygiene, strengthen your immune system and do not ignore infections and inflammation that occur in the body.