Cystitis in women

What is cystitis in women?— one of the most common urological diseases is cystitis.It is an inflammation of the bladder wall, occurring most often in women - in 80% of cases.According to statistics, the prevalence of this disease among the female population during a calendar year can reach 36 million cases.For men, these figures are several times lower.

Almost every woman has experienced unpleasant symptoms of the disease at least once in her life.This is explained by the structural features of the urinary system.The urethra, which has a larger diameter and shorter length than in men, as well as the proximity of the vagina and anus allow pathogens to quickly penetrate into the bladder cavity.Cystitis which appears in a woman aged 16 to 65 years and which is not accompanied by other pathologies of the urinary system is said to be simple.Treatment is successfully carried out on an outpatient basis (at home).

Causes of cystitis in women

Basically, the nature of the disease is infectious.There are several pathogens, but the main one is E. coli.Sometimes cystitis develops against the background of other diseases associated with urology and gynecology.Factors that can cause inflammation:

• Hypothermia of the body.The risk group includes girls and women who prefer to wear clothes that are not suitable for the weather, for example, too thin tights, short skirts in the cold season.
• Neglect of genital hygiene.This is often what causes cystitis in girls.
• Neurogenic bladder is a problem that occurs not only in children, but also in adults.Associated with impaired voluntary urination.Due to the increased sensitivity of the bladder receptors, this disease is diagnosed more often in girls than in boys.The result is malnutrition of the organ, leading to the rapid development of pathogenic microflora causing inflammation.
• Hormonal changes occurring in the female body during pregnancy, metabolic disorders associated with diabetes mellitus provoke the appearance of cystitis.
• Wearing too tight, narrow and uncomfortable clothing leads to disruption of blood supply to the organs of the urinary system.
• Radiation therapy for pelvic tumors can cause inflammation.
• Estrogen deficiency, changes in the mucous membrane during menopause.
• Injury to the walls of the bladder during various endoscopic procedures.
• In girls, the manifestation of cystitis occurs during the first sexual intercourse.The reason is damage to the bladder wall, the entry of microflora from the vagina into the urethra.Therefore, an active and vigorous sex life, when there is also a high risk of infection, also contributes to the occurrence of the disease.

Under the influence of these factors, pathogenic microflora develops, leading to inflammation and the appearance of unpleasant symptoms.

Clinical picture of cystitis

The disease in women manifests itself suddenly, shortly after the action of a provoking factor (hypothermia, infection, injury).

The first and main symptom is usually pollakiuria – frequent urination.It is observed following an increase in the tone of the bladder wall caused by inflammation.

The desire to go to the toilet occurs up to several dozen times a day, every 15 to 20 minutes.The volume of each portion of urine decreases more and more.Some patients, on the contrary, suffer from urinary retention (due to a spasm of the sphincter) or incontinence (if the neck of the organ is affected).

The woman feels severe pain in the abdomen all the way down, moving towards the perineum.The greatest discomfort is felt when emptying the bladder.This happens painfully, with pain and a burning sensation.Unpleasant sensations may occur at the beginning and end of the urination process.

One of the constant symptoms is leukocyturia.The color of urine changes, it becomes cloudy, interspersed with pus and blood.In case of pronounced hematuria, we speak of a hemorrhagic form of cystitis.

The woman's general health deteriorates, weakness and discomfort appear and the temperature can rise to 38°C.

Classification of cystitis

In medicine, it is customary to distinguish types of diseases depending on the course, the cause of their formation, the stage of development, morphological changes and the prevalence of the inflammatory process.The generally accepted classification distinguishes the following types of cystitis in women:

• Hemorrhagic.The cause of pathology is the activity of viruses, bacteria and fungi.Urine contains blood, depending on the amount of blood, the color varies from pink to brown.If left untreated, iron deficiency anemia can develop, followed by a general infection of the body due to blockage of the pathways by blood clots.
• Interstitial.The inflammation is not infectious and occurs more often in young women.The reason is a lack of glycosaminoglycans, which causes inflammation.Characterized by severe cutting pains and frequent urges, mainly at night.With a vigorous sex life, the disease can progress.
• Radiological cystitis.Occurs after radiotherapy used to treat tumors.The procedure affects the sensitivity of the bladder, causes wall deformation and organ dysfunction.
• Catarrhal cystitis.In addition to blood, stones, sand and an increased content of calcium salts are found in urine.Bladder capacity decreases.
• Encrusting.The affected mucosa is covered with salts and fibrin.Drug therapy is not always effective.The best treatment results are achieved with surgical intervention.
• Cervical cystitis.Named depending on the location - inflammation forms in the bladder neck.The peculiarity lies in damage to the mucous membrane, as well as sphincters that regulate urination.A woman often feels false urges, pain in the perineum and lower abdomen.Laboratory analysis of urine reveals a high content of pathogenic microorganisms.

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

Acute and chronic cystitis

The differences existing during the course of the disease make it possible to distinguish the different forms.

Acute cystitis

It progresses rapidly and is characterized by pronounced symptoms - dysuria (decreased urination), leukocyturia and terminal hematuria.The woman experiences frequent urges that cause discomfort accompanied by intense painful sensations.Dysuric disorders after 5-10 minutes cause the desire to go to the toilet, excreted portions of urine are rare.

Chronic cystitis

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

• nocturia – urge to urinate at night;
• Dysuria is an incessant desire to empty the bladder.

In the remission phase, symptoms are slow, imperceptible or completely absent.

Diagnosis

Early detection of cystitis allows you to start treatment on time, preventing the disease from becoming chronic and the appearance of other complications.Laboratory and instrumental studies help to establish an accurate diagnosis.They include: a general urine test, a bacteriological culture, a vaginal smear.If necessary, ultrasound, cystoscopy and cystography are prescribed.

The main and obligatory research method is urine analysis.With its help, the degree of the inflammatory process and the type of causative agent of the disease are determined.A general analysis makes it possible to determine the number of leukocytes and red blood cells.The composition contains salts of uric acid, mucus and bacteriuria.In the presence of inflammation, urine appears cloudy and may have a reddish tint.

It is not always possible to make an accurate diagnosis based on laboratory methods alone.In these cases, the doctor prescribes cystoscopy - a method that allows you to assess the condition of the bladder, the presence of stones, tumors, ulcers and foreign bodies.The condition of the organ walls is determined using ultrasound.

Treatment scheme

It is not difficult to get rid of cystitis if you follow all the doctor's instructions.The treatment regimen is established taking into account the cause of the exacerbation, the type of pathogen and the presence of concomitant diseases.For bacterial cystitis, this includes:

• Antibacterial therapy.
• Take antispasmodics.
• Special diet.
• Phytotherapy, use of traditional medicine.

In addition to the above methods, in case of recurrent cystitis, physiotherapy and facilities are prescribed.Postmenopausal women are recommended to use hormonal creams containing estrogen.Herbal sitz baths help improve well-being and relieve unpleasant symptoms.

Drug therapy

Timely treatment using effective methods allows you to completely eliminate inflammation and restore the mucous membrane.

In order to relieve pain, antispasmodics are prescribed.A natural preparation for the treatment of cystitis has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects.Biologically active substances included in its composition have a beneficial effect on the urinary tract and kidneys.

Given the bacterial nature of the disease, the use of antibiotics is a mandatory stage of treatment.They are prescribed taking into account the type of cystitis pathogen, the degree of absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, the rate of elimination from the body and side effects.Modern drugs have the ability to linger in the affected organ, which increases their effectiveness and allows shortening the duration of treatment.

Traditional methods of treatment

Our great-grandmothers knew well what cystitis was and used various folk medicines to get rid of its unpleasant and painful symptoms.

Lingonberry treatment

They use berries, as well as leaves of the plant, collected in early spring, until nutrients and beneficial substances are transferred to flowers and fruits.In traditional medicine, there are many recipes using lingonberries:

• Pour boiling water over the berries (2 cups of water per 150 g), leave for an hour, drink 0.5 cups three times a day.
• The leaves of the plant are crushed, poured into a saucepan, fresh water is added and put on fire.After boiling, remove, let the broth brew for a while, take before meals 3 times a day for three months.For 60 g of raw materials you will need 1 liter of water.
• For preventive purposes, it is recommended to use lingonberry jam and fruit drinks in the diet.

It should be noted that lingonberries remove potassium and calcium, which a woman needs for health and beauty, as well as urine.It is important, using lingonberry decoctions, to enrich the diet with products that replenish essential microelements (cottage cheese, pumpkin, parsley).

Chamomile for cystitis

The plant is used not only for making teas and decoctions.Topical application of chamomile is no less effective in the fight against cystitis.The infusion is used for douching.Chamomile decoction restores damaged mucous membranes, cleanses the inner surface of the bladder from infections and improves blood circulation.

Bearberry

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

Traditional medicine in the treatment of cystitis is a complement to drug treatment.Their use is possible only after consulting a doctor.

The disease can be avoided if you follow certain rules: avoiding hypothermia, maintaining hygiene, strengthening the immune system and not ignoring infections and inflammations that appear in the body.