Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can happen anywhere along the urinary tract—from the kidneys, to the bladder, to the urethra. In conversation, the term UTI is often used to refer to a bladder infection. Acute cystitis is the medical term for a bladder infection. Cystitis comes from the Latin for “cyst,” meaning bladder and “-itis,” meaning inflammation. Acute cystitis is the most common form of UTI.
What are the symptoms of acute cystitis?
Cystitis is extremely uncomfortable and may even be painful in many people. Much of the discomfort comes from a pain or burning sensation with urinating. A strong urge to urinate frequently often accompanies urinary pain, resulting in multiple trips to the bathroom in a short amount of time.
Occasionally, one may feel cramping pain or discomfort in the area of the bladder (the lower abdomen). The urine may also appear abnormal, with blood in the stream or blood noticed on the toilet tissue when wiping. More severe symptoms can make one feel generally weak, irritable, and unable to sleep.
What causes cystitis?
Generally, gut bacteria cause cystitis. In most cases, the bacteria from the anus and the gastrointestinal tract enter through the opening of the urethra and travel inward toward the bladder, where they cause infection and inflammation. The shorter distance between the rectum and the vagina and from the urethra to the bladder explains why those with vaginal urethras are far more likely to get cystitis than those with penile urethras.
There’s evidence that some individuals are genetically predisposed to frequent cystitis regardless of their underlying health, sexual behaviors, or personal care routines. However, multiple risk factors have been associated with this migration of the offending bacteria, making one more susceptible to cystitis:
- Frequent vaginal sexual intercourse
- Diabetes
- Menopause
- Using a urinary catheter
- Urological disease or changes in urological anatomy
- Uncircumcised penis
- Insertive anal intercourse
- Constipation
- Delaying urinating or “holding it in”
- Recent bladder or kidney infection (in the past one year)
- Use of spermicide for birth control
How is cystitis treated?
Traditionally, cystitis is treated with antibiotics prescribed through a healthcare provider; however, the length and choice of treatment may differ depending on one’s individual risk factors, type of infecting bacteria, the severity of infection, and underlying health.
Certain over-the-counter medications may also help with symptoms, such as fever and pain-reducers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
Other non-prescription remedies have been touted to cure urinary tract infections, such as cranberry juice or cranberry tablets; however, nothing other than antibiotics has been proven to treat cystitis. Cranberry juice is not recommended to treat or prevent cystitis.
How long after symptoms start do I need treatment?
Generally, you should seek treatment right away if you are having any urinary pain or difficulty. Infections left untreated, if mild, sometimes self-resolve within two days; however, there is a risk of migrating infection to the kidneys, which can cause severe illness, hospitalization, or serious complications.
Signs that the infection may be something other than cystitis should not be ignored:
- Severe back pain
- Nausea, vomiting
- Shaking and chills
- Fever
These may be signs of a more severe infection of other areas of the urinary tract, kidneys, or abdominal infections.
If you have repeated infections, you probably need further assessment to find a cause or to get more appropriate treatment.
Preventing acute cystitis
Prevention can mean different things based on the frequency and severity of one’s bladder infections. Take note of behaviors that seem related to developing cystitis. Drinking more water can help you prevent infections. If you are postmenopausal or experiencing frequent symptoms of acute cystitis, you should schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider to explore the need for hormonal or daily antibiotic treatment. This often requires a referral to specialty care, such as with a urologist or a gynecologist.
This article is for educational purposes and not intended to diagnose or treat any condition or to give medical advice. Always consult your primary care provider for healthcare instructions. External links are provided as references and do not indicate an endorsement by Medcor. External links are subject to other sites’ terms of use and privacy policies.
References
InformedHealth.org, “Acute Cystitis: Overview,” October 24, 2019.
National Women’s Health Network, “Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs),” February 13, 2019.
Thomas Hooton, “Patient education: Urinary tract infections in adolescents and adults,” UpToDate, December 3, 2020.
