What is cystitis in women?— one of the most common urological diseases is cystitis.It is an inflammation of the bladder wall, most often occurring in the fairer sex - in 80% of cases.According to statistics, the prevalence of this disease among the female population in one calendar year is up to 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, and the close proximity of the vagina and anus allow pathogens to quickly penetrate the bladder cavity.Cystitis that appears in a woman aged 16 to 65 years and is not accompanied by other pathologies of the urinary system is called uncomplicated.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 provoke inflammation:
- Hypothermia of the body.The risk group includes girls and women who prefer to wear clothes that are not appropriate for the weather, for example, too thin tights, short skirts in the cold season.
- Neglect of genital hygiene.Often this is 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 bladder receptors, girls are more often diagnosed with this condition than boys.The result is a malnutrition of the organ, leading to the rapid development of pathogenic microflora that causes inflammation.
- Hormonal changes that occur in the female body during pregnancy, metabolic disorders in diabetes mellitus provoke the occurrence of cystitis.
- Wearing clothes that are too tight, narrow and uncomfortable leads to disruption of the blood supply to the organs of the urinary system.
- Radiation therapy for tumors in the pelvis can cause inflammation.
- Estrogen deficiency, changes in the mucous membrane during menopause.
- Injury to the bladder walls during various endoscopic procedures.
- In girls, the manifestation of cystitis occurs during the first sexual intercourse.The reason is injury to the wall of the bladder, the entry of microflora from the vagina into the urethra.Therefore, an active, 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, within a short period of time after the action of a provoking factor (hypothermia, infection, injury).
The first and main symptom is usually pollakiuria - frequent urination.It is observed as a result of increased tone of the bladder wall caused by inflammation.
The desire to visit the toilet occurs up to several dozen times a day, every 15–20 minutes.The volume of each portion of urine becomes less and less.Some patients, on the contrary, suffer from urinary retention (due to sphincter spasm) or incontinence (if the cervix of the organ is affected).
The woman feels severe pain in the very lower abdomen, moving to the perineum.The greatest discomfort is felt when emptying the bladder.It occurs painfully, with pain and a burning sensation.Unpleasant sensations may occur at the beginning and at the end of the urination process.
One of the constant symptoms is leukocyturia.The color of the urine changes, it becomes cloudy, interspersed with pus and blood.With pronounced hematuria, they speak of a hemorrhagic form of cystitis.
The woman’s general health deteriorates, weakness and malaise appear, and the temperature may rise to 38°C.
Classification of cystitis
In medicine, it is customary to distinguish between types of disease depending on the course, cause of formation, stage of development, morphological changes, and prevalence of the inflammatory process.The generally accepted classification distinguishes the following types of cystitis in women:
- Hemorrhagic.The cause of the pathology is the activity of viruses, bacteria, fungi.Urine contains blood, depending on the amount of blood, the color varies from pink to brown.In the absence of treatment, iron deficiency anemia may develop, and subsequently a general infection of the body due to blockage of the pathways with blood clots.
- Interstitial.The inflammation is non-infectious and occurs more often among young women.The reason is a lack of glycosaminoglycans, which causes inflammation.Characterized by severe cutting pain and frequent urges, mainly at night.With a vigorous sexual life, the disease can progress.
- Radiation cystitis.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, stones, sand, and an increased content of calcium salts are found in the urine.The capacity of the bladder decreases.
- Encrusting.The affected mucosa is covered with salts and fibrin.Therapy using medications is not always effective.The best results in treatment are achieved with surgical intervention.
- Cervical cystitis.Named according to the location - inflammation forms in the neck of the bladder.The peculiarity lies in the damage to the mucous membrane, as well as the 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 in it.
The type of disease can be determined only after a complete examination.
Acute and chronic cystitis
The existing differences in the course of the disease make it possible to distinguish its different forms.
Acute cystitis
It progresses quickly and is characterized by pronounced symptoms - dysuria (impaired urination), leukocyturia and terminal hematuria.The woman experiences frequent urges that cause discomfort with severe painful sensations.Dysuric disorders after 5–10 minutes cause the desire to visit the toilet, the portions of urine excreted are scanty.
Chronic cystitis
Its symptoms are similar to the acute form.Exacerbations of the disease occur once or repeatedly throughout the year.Expressed in the form of frequent and painful urination, severe pain in the pubic area.Features of chronic cystitis> are:
- nocturia – the urge to urinate at night;
- dysuria is an incessant desire to empty the bladder.
In the remission stage, symptoms are sluggish, unnoticeable or completely absent.
Diagnostics
Detection of cystitis at an early stage allows you to start treatment on time, to prevent the disease from becoming chronic and the occurrence of other complications.Laboratory and instrumental studies help establish an accurate diagnosis.They include: general urine test, bacteriological culture, vaginal smear.If necessary, ultrasound, cystoscopy, and cystography are prescribed.
The main and mandatory 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 allows you to determine how high the number of leukocytes and red blood cells is.The composition contains uric acid salts, mucus, and bacteriuria.In the presence of inflammation, the urine takes on a cloudy appearance 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 in it.The condition of the organ walls is determined using ultrasound.
Treatment regimen
It is not difficult to get rid of cystitis if you follow all the doctor’s instructions.The treatment regimen is drawn up 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 antispasmodics.
- Special diet.
- Herbal medicine, the use of traditional medicine.
In addition to the above methods, for recurrent cystitis, physiotherapy and installations are prescribed.Women during menopause are recommended to use hormonal creams containing estrogen.Sitz herbal 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 an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect.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.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, allowing the course of treatment to be shortened.
Traditional methods of treatment
Our great-grandmothers knew well what cystitis was, and they used various traditional medicine to get rid of its unpleasant and painful symptoms.
Treatment with lingonberries
They use berries, as well as leaves of the plant, harvested in early spring, until the nutrients and beneficial substances are transferred to the flowers and fruits.In folk medicine, there are many recipes from lingonberries:
- Pour boiling water over the berries (2 cups of water per 150 g), leave for an hour, drink 0.5 cup three times a day.
- The leaves of the plant are crushed, poured into a pan, cool 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 wash away potassium and calcium, which a woman needs for health and beauty, along with 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 infection and improves blood circulation.
Bearberry
The plant is known for its diuretic and antibacterial effects.An infusion of 30 ml 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 an addition to drug therapy.Their use is possible only after consulting a doctor.
The disease can be avoided if you adhere to certain rules: avoid hypothermia, maintain hygiene, strengthen the immune system, and do not ignore infections and inflammations that appear in the body.