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What causes Cystitis and Urinary Tract Infections

If you suffer from cystitis, you are not alone, it is estimated that every year 2 million women and men visit their doctor due to cystitis and other urinary tract infections.

What causes cystitis?

Cystitis is often caused by bacteria that get into your urethra from surrounding skin and travel up towards your bladder, causing infection and irritation. Most infections are caused by bacteria that normally live harmlessly in your bowel, usually a type of bacteria called E.Coli. Mild cystitis can also occur when no bacteria is present but the bladder has suffered irritation.

Women get cystitis more than men partly because, in women, the urethra is nearer the opening of the back passage (anus) where bacteria from your bowel can collect. This makes it easier for bacteria to get transferred from the surrounding skin into the urethra. The urethra is also much shorter in women than men, so there is less distance for the infection to travel to the bladder.

You're more likely to get bacterial cystitis if you:

• Are sexually active - the risk increases the more often you have sex
• Have been through the menopause - causing changes to the lining of your vagina and urethra, making you more likely to have bacteria in your urine
• Have diabetes - your urine may contain more sugar, encouraging bacteria to grow
• Have a condition that prevents you from emptying your bladder such as bladder or kidney stones, enlarged prostate or are pregnant
• Have a urinary catheter - introducing bacteria directly into your bladder

You're more likely to get mild (non bacterial) cystitis if you:

• Are sexually active - the risk increases the more often you have sex
• Use spermicide-coated condoms or a diaphragm with spermicide
• Use irritants such as certain soaps, which may irritate your urethra or bladder
• Drink a lot of coffee, alcohol and fruit juices which can cause the urine to be acidic and irritate your bladder

Recurrent cystitis

Recurrent cystitis is when a person suffers from 2 or more infections in a 6 month period. It is a very painful and unpleasant condition suffered by an ever increasing number of men and women. Once a woman has had cystitis 3 times, she is likely to continue suffering recurrences. Women in their late 20s and those over 55 are particularly prone to recurrent cystitis.

In most cases, there is no obvious reason why your cystitis recurs and usually no problem can be identified with your bladder or immune system. It is sometimes the case that there is a slight alteration in the ability of the body to resist bacteria getting into the bladder and causing infection.

Some of the following may contribute:

• Bladder or kidney problems may lead to infections being more likely
• Having sex increases the chance of cystitis in some women
• Hormones. Your vagina, bladder and urethra respond to the hormone oestrogen. When the levels of oestrogen in the body reduce, the tissues of these organs become thinner, weaker, and dry. These changes can increase the risk of recurrent cystitis if you have gone through the change (menopause). Cystitis is also more common during pregnancy because of changes in the urinary tract.

Try to prevent your recurring cystitis or UTI by taking hI-Cran^® daily.

When should I contact my GP?

If you're a woman and in good health, you may not need to see your GP, as cystitis often clears up by itself with home treatments. However you should contact your GP if:

• Your symptoms don't improve after two to three days
• You have blood in your urine
• You're pregnant or may be pregnant
• You're over 65
• You have a high temperature, feel sick or are vomiting
• You have pain in your lower back or severe abdominal pain
• The cystitis keeps coming back
• You have other problems with your urinary system such as kidney stones or difficulty emptying your bladder
• You have diabetes

Children and men should always see their GP if they have cystitis.

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