Cystitis

What is Cystitis?

Cystitis is a common urinary tract infection which affects 2% of the female population. It is estimated that 90% of Cystitis diagnoses are found in women.

The reason women are at a greater risk of developing a UTI than men is due to the shorter distance between the anus (back passage) and the urethra. This increases the likelihood of bacteria from the rectum entering the urethra. The condition can be mild and can clear itself within a few days. In other cases, cystitis can recur. For these cases, your doctor may recommend treatment.

Moreover, the female urethra is shorter than the male urethra. Due to this, the bacteria can reach the bladder quickly in women than in men.

The symptoms of Cystitis include:

• Blood in urine
• Burning sensation when urinating
• Cloudy urine
• Foul-smelling urine
• Frequent urination
• Lower abdominal pain

While cystitis itself is easily treatable, it can lead to complications such as a kidney infection. If you don't notice an improvement in your symptoms, you should speak with your doctor for further advice.

What causes Cystitis?

Cystitis is caused by bacteria. In most cases, Escherichia coli (E coli) from the patient's bowel is the cause. Other bacteria that can cause a UTI include Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus. Bacteria can also develop in the bladder in cases when the bladder cannot empty, often due to an obstruction.

Though Cystitis is not a sexually transmitted infection, sexual intercourse can increase the risk of developing a Cystitis infection.

Obstruction or damage to the urethra can also lead to a cystitis infection.

UTIs can occur in any part of the urinary system, including the kidneys, bladder and urethra. Cystitis relates specifically to the bladder.

The following increase the risk of developing UTIs:

• Bladder obstruction or abnormality (bladder stones, diverticula, tumour)
• Diabetes
• Injury or abnormality to the spinal cord
• Kidney obstruction or abnormality (horseshoe kidney, kidney stones, polycystic kidney)
• Menopause
• Pregnancy (baby pressing on the bladder)
• Sexual intercourse
• Urethral obstruction or abnormality (Catheters, enlarged prostate gland, urethral stricture, stents)
• Using a diaphragm for contraception
• Wiping back to front when going to the toilet

If you encounter recurrent cystitis infections, arrange an appointment with your GP. Regardless of whether your cystitis infection is related to intercourse, they may be able to prescribe a continuous course of antibiotics.

How is Cystitis treated?

In some cases, the symptoms of Cystitis can be managed at home. If you've had a Cystitis infection before and are aware of the symptoms, or if your symptoms are mild and have lasted for less than 3 days, you may not be required to arrange an appointment with your GP.

Alternatively, Cystitis can be treated with a short course of antibiotics. The antibiotics help to rid the infection from your urinary system, providing relief from the symptoms.

Prescription Doctor offers two antibiotics to treat cystitis - Nitrofurantoin 100mg and Trimethoprim.

It is essential to follow your doctor's advice when taking antibiotics. Taking antibiotics too frequently, or when they are not necessary, can lead to antimicrobial resistance, which reduces the effectiveness of antibiotics when they are truly needed.

You can take paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve any pain you are experiencing. You should speak to your doctor before taking any medication to ensure it is safe for you.

Avoid sexual intercourse until the infection has cleared. While the infection isn't sexually transmitted, sexual intercourse can be the cause of infection and, as such, can cause the infection to come back or make your current symptoms worse.

It's important to drink plenty of fluids while fighting infection, especially a urinary tract infection. UTIs, such as Cystitis, can increase the frequency of urination. In turn, your body loses more fluids. 

You should arrange an appointment with your GP if any of the following apply to you:

• You are a man experiencing symptoms of a UTI
• You are pregnant and experiencing symptoms of a UTI
• You have blood in your urine
• You have not had a UTI before
• Your symptoms come back after treatment
• Your symptoms do not improve or worsen within a few days

There are several natural remedies for Cystitis, including cranberry juice and tablets, D-mannose, and probiotics. However, it is unclear how effective these remedies are in ridding the urethra of bacterial infections.

You can buy Cystitis treatments online from Prescription Doctor. Our UK-registered pharmacy dispatches all orders in discreet packaging that does not reveal the contents.

Tips on Preventing Cystitis

There are several ways to reduce your risk of developing UTIs. These include:

• Avoid resisting going to the toilet
• Avoid using spermicidal lube on barrier contraceptives
• Avoiding perfumed bubble baths or soap
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Go to the toilet as soon as you can after having sex
• Take showers instead of baths
• Try to empty your bladder when you go to the toilet
• Wear loose cotton underwear
• Wipe from front to back when going to the toilet

Buy antibiotics for UTI Online in the UK

You can purchase Macrobid (nitrofurantoin) 100mg for UTIs online through Prescription Doctor's convenient online pharmacy service.

Our online doctors are ready to issue a prescription to you online. All items are MHRA approved and dispatched from our UK-registered pharmacy.

Additional Resources

How to Prevent Cystitis?

How to Get Rid of Cystitis?

How to Ease Cystitis at Night?

Why Do I Keep Getting Cystitis?

Authored & Reviewed By

Mohamed Imran Lakhi

MPharm - Lead Pharmacist

This content has been written and checked for quality and accuracy by Imran Lakhi is the superintendent pharmacist and founder at Prescription Doctor. He has been at the core of our team.

Published on: 27/03/2019 Reviewed on: 13/10/2023