Wear the right underwear and ALWAYS pee after sex…how to stop painful cystitis
ANYONE who's ever had cystitis will tell you that the pain is unbearable...and you'll do absolutely anything to get rid of it.
But what if there were things you could do to prevent it, and avoid suffering that burning pain to begin with?
Understandably, you'd leap at the chance.
Who can blame you, urinary tract infections (UTI), including cystitis, cause pain, burning and stinging when you pee; a frequent need to wee; pain in your lower tummy; and turns your pee dark and smelly.
Did we mention burning pain?
Around one in every two women will suffer a urinary tract infection at some point in their lifetime.
They are usually caused by bacteria, usually from poo, entering your urinary tract.
There it settles in to cause all the symptoms mentioned about.
Pregnant women, people with kidney stones, those with existing bladder problems or conditions that stop them fully emptying their bladder and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to suffer a UTI.
One in four women will suffer a recurrent infection within six months of the first.
It can also go on to develop into cystitis - when the infection reaches the bladder and causes extreme discomfort to sufferers.
Needless to say, you don't want to experience it.
The key things you need to do to prevent a UTI
If you follow these steps you are less likely to suffer through a UTI.
- Wipe from front to back when you go to the loo
- Always pee after sex to flush out any bacteria that may have entered the urinary tract
- Wear loose fitting, cotton underwear to avoid any irritation down below
- Make sure you have fully emptied your bladder when you pee
- Drink plenty of water to keep everything flowing down there
- Opt for showers instead of baths - bacteria can sit in the water and enter your urinary tract in a bath
Unfortunately, sometimes the world just works against us so you may still get a UTI, but it's less likely if you are doing all you can to prevent it.
On that note, there are some things that don't work when it comes to preventing the infection.
What shouldn't you do?
You may have heard that drinking cranberry juice can help prevent, or treat, a UTI but recent research found that's not the case.
Although some studies have claimed it may help, new guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) say there is not enough evidence to recommend it as a treatment.
Professor Mark Baker, director for the centre of guidelines at Nice, said: "We recognise that the majority of UTIs will require antibiotic treatment, but we need to be smarter with our use of these medicines.
“Our new guidance will help healthcare professionals to optimise their use of antibiotics. This will help to protect these vital medicines and ensure that no one experiences side effects from a treatment they do not need.”
Instead, if you have a urinary tract infection (UTI) you should drink plenty of water and take painkillers to manage the symptoms.
Other things to avoid:
Think carefully about what you are using down there, it's a sensitive area that is prone to infection if not looked after properly.
Here's what you should steer clear of...
- Perfumed bubble bath, soap and talcum powder
- Don't hold your pee in, if you need to go then go
- Avoid tight fitting, synthetic or nylon underwear, it can cause sweating and irritation
- Avoid tight jeans or trousers, for the same reason
- Don't use condoms or diaphragms that have spermicidal lube on them as this can also cause infection - opt for regular lube instead
MORE ON WOMEN'S HEALTH
Women don’t always need to go to the doctors if they have cystitis, as cases typically clear up by themselves after a few days.
But if they persist you should speak to a GP.
When antibiotics are needed doctors are advised to prescribe the shortest course to prevent the infection becoming drug resistant in the future.
It may be a good idea to get a back-up prescription to use if your symptoms do not clear up within 48 hours or get worse.
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