Cystitis in women

What is cystitis in women?— one of the most common urological diseases is cystitis.This inflammation of the bladder wall occurs most often in the fairer sex - in 80% of cases.According to statistics, the prevalence of this disease among the female population can be as high as 36 million cases in a calendar year.For men, these numbers are multiple.

Almost every woman has experienced the unpleasant symptoms of the disease at least once in her life.This is explained by the structural features of the urinary system.In men, the larger diameter and shorter urethra, as well as the close proximity of the vagina and anus, allow pathogens to quickly penetrate the bladder cavity.Cystitis occurring in women between the ages of 16 and 65, which is not accompanied by other pathologies of the urinary system, is called uncomplicated.The treatment is successfully carried out 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 develops against the background of other diseases related to urology and gynecology.Factors causing inflammation:

• Hypothermia of the body.The risk group includes girls and women who prefer to wear clothes that do not suit the weather, such as too thin stockings, short skirts in the cold season.
• Neglect of genital hygiene.This is often the cause of 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, girls are diagnosed with this condition more often than boys.The result is malnutrition of the organ, which leads to the rapid development of the pathogenic microflora that causes inflammation.
• Hormonal changes occurring in the female body during pregnancy and metabolic disorders of diabetes provoke the occurrence of cystitis.
• Wearing clothes that are too tight, narrow and uncomfortable leads to disruption of the blood supply to the urinary organs.
• Radiation therapy for pelvic tumors can cause inflammation.
• Estrogen deficiency, mucosal changes during menopause.
• Bladder wall damage during various endoscopic procedures.
• In girls, cystitis manifests itself during the first sexual intercourse.The cause is damage to the wall of the bladder, the entry of microflora from the vagina into the urethra.Therefore, an active, vigorous sex life, when the risk of infection is also high, also contributes to the development of the disease.

As a result of these factors, pathogenic microflora develops, which leads to inflammation and the appearance of unpleasant symptoms.

Clinical picture of cystitis

The disease in women appears suddenly, shortly after a provoking factor (hypothermia, infection, injury).

The first and main symptom is usually pollakiuria - frequent urination.It is observed as a result of the increased tone of the bladder wall caused by inflammation.

The desire to go to the toilet appears dozens of times a day, every 15-20 minutes.The volume of some parts of the urine will become smaller and smaller.Some patients, on the contrary, suffer from urinary retention (due to spasm of the sphincter muscle) or incontinence (if the organ's cervix is affected).

The woman feels severe pain in the lower abdomen, moving towards the perineum.The greatest discomfort is felt when emptying the bladder.It appears painful, 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 the urine changes, it becomes cloudy, speckled with pus and blood.In the case of pronounced hematuria, it is called the hemorrhagic form of cystitis.

The woman's general state of health deteriorates, weakness and malaise appear, the temperature may rise to 38 °C.

Classification of cystitis

In medicine, it is customary to distinguish types of diseases depending on the course, the cause of its development, 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:

• Bleeding.The cause of the pathology is the activity of viruses, bacteria and fungi.Urine contains blood, depending on the amount of blood, its color varies from pink to brown.In the absence of treatment, iron-deficiency anemia may develop, followed by a general infection of the body due to blockage of the pathways caused by blood clots.
• Interposed.The inflammation is not contagious and occurs more often among young women.This is due to a lack of glycosaminoglycans, which causes inflammation.It is characterized by severe cutting pain and frequent urges, especially at night.The disease can progress with a vigorous sex life.
• Radiation cystitis.It occurs after radiation used in the treatment of tumors.The procedure affects the sensitivity of the bladder, causes deformation of the walls and dysfunction of the organ.
• Catarrhal cystitis.In addition to blood, there are stones, sand and an increased content of calcium salts in the urine.Bladder capacity decreases.
• Loading.The affected mucosa is covered with salts and fibrin.Medication is not always effective.The best treatment results are achieved with surgical intervention.
• Cervical cystitis.Named after the place - inflammation develops in the neck of the bladder.The peculiarity lies in the damage to the mucous membrane and the sphincter muscles that regulate urination.A woman often feels a false urge, 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

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

Acute cystitis

It develops rapidly and is characterized by pronounced symptoms - dysuria (urinary disorder), leukocyturia and terminal hematuria.The woman experiences frequent urges that cause discomfort with severe painful sensations.Dysuric disorders that occur after 5-10 minutes cause the desire to visit the toilet, the voided parts of the urine are small.

Chronic cystitis

Its symptoms are similar to the acute form.Aggravation of the disease occurs once or more during the year.It is expressed in the form of frequent and painful urination and severe pain in the vulva.Characteristics of chronic cystitis:

• 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.

Diagnostics

Recognizing cystitis at an early stage makes it possible to start treatment in time, prevents the disease from becoming chronic and the occurrence of other complications.Laboratory and instrumental tests help to establish an accurate diagnosis.These include: general urinalysis, bacteriological culture, thumb smear.If necessary, ultrasound, cystoscopy and cystography are prescribed.

The main and mandatory research method is urine analysis.With its help, they determine the degree of the inflammatory process and the type of the causative agent of the disease.The general analysis allows you to determine how high the number of leukocytes and red blood cells is.The preparation contains uric acid salts, mucus and bacteriuria.In case of inflammation, the urine becomes 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 a cystoscopy - a method that allows you to assess the state of the bladder, the presence of stones, tumors, ulcers and foreign bodies.The state of the organ walls is determined by ultrasound.

Treatment regimen

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

• Antibacterial therapy.
• Taking anticonvulsants.
• Special diet.
• Herbal medicine, application of traditional medicine.

In addition to the above methods, in case of recurring cystitis, physiotherapy and implants are prescribed.During menopause, women are advised to use estrogen-containing hormonal creams.Herbal sitz baths help to improve well-being and relieve unpleasant symptoms.

Drug therapy

Timely treatment with effective methods makes it possible to completely eliminate inflammation and restore the mucous membrane.

Antispasmodics are prescribed to relieve pain.The natural preparation for the treatment of cystitis is pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial.The biologically active substances 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 step in treatment.It is prescribed taking into account the type of causative agent of cystitis, the degree of absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, the rate of elimination from the body and side effects.Modern drugs are able to linger in the affected organ, which increases their effectiveness, allowing the treatment to be shortened.

Traditional treatment methods

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

Treatment with cranberries

Berries, as well as the leaves of the plant harvested in early spring, are used until the nutrients and useful substances are transferred to the flowers and fruits.There are many blueberry recipes in folk medicine:

• 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 pan, cold water is added and put on fire.After boiling, remove it, let it cook for a while, take it three times a day before meals for three months.For 60 g of raw material, you will need 1 liter of water.
• For preventive purposes, it is recommended to use cranberry jam and fruit drinks in the diet.

It should be noted that cranberries together with urine remove potassium and calcium, which a woman needs for health and beauty.By using cranberry decoctions, it is important to enrich the diet with products that replace essential micronutrients (cottage cheese, pumpkin, parsley).

Chamomile for cystitis

The plant is not only used to make teas and concoctions.Local application of chamomile is no less effective in the fight against cystitis.The infusion is used for rinsing.Chamomile decoction restores the damaged mucous membrane, cleans the inner surface of the bladder from infection and improves blood circulation.

Bearberry

The plant is known for its diuretic and antibacterial properties.An infusion of 30 ml is made 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 supplement to drug therapy.Their use is possible only after consultation with a doctor.

The disease can be avoided if we follow certain rules: avoid hypothermia, observe hygiene, strengthen the immune system, and do not ignore infections and inflammations that appear in the body.