Have you ever had that feeling? The pain with urination, the feeling that you still have to go to the bathroom right after you’re done? Does it seem like it happens all the time? The terms bladder infection, urinary tract infection (UTI) or cystitis are used interchangeably in the medical world. They all refer to a bacterial infection that has occurred in your bladder. Most women have at least one bladder infection some time in their life. However, when it occurs 2 or more times over 6 months or 3 or more times in a year it is considered a recurrent UTI.
These are actually more common than you might think, especially among young healthy women, and are rarely due to any underlying abnormality within the bladder or urinary tract system. Most bladder infections are caused by bacteria that naturally live in the bowels, and because the urethra (the tube you urinate through), the vagina and the rectum are so close together in women they are in general at higher risk than men for bladder infections.
Risk Factors for Recurrent Bladder Infections
Risk factors for recurrent bladder infections in premenopausal women include sexual intercourse (especially with a new partner within the last year), diaphragm and/or spermicide use for contraception, first UTI at or before age 15, having a mother with a history of recurrent bladder infections and a history of frequent bladder infections in the past. Recent antibiotic use for another type of infection can also put you at risk for a bladder infection by disrupting the normal bacteria that keep the vaginal area healthy.
Anatomical changes such as a dropped uterus (uterine prolapse) or dropped bladder (cystocele) also predispose a woman to recurrent bladder infections. These changes in pelvic anatomy disrupt the ability of the bladder to empty fully, therefore leaving urine in the bladder for longer periods of time which can allow bacteria to invade and cause an infection.
In rare cases, recurrent infections in the bladder can be the result of an underlying defect within the urinary system in your body. Because of this, it is important to see your doctor when you think you have an infection. This allows us to keep track of how often infections occur, what bacteria we are treating and if we are using the appropriate antibiotic treatment for you. In some cases it may be necessary to follow up with an urologist for a full evaluation of the urinary system; your doctor can determine if this is necessary.
Preventing Bladder Infections
To prevent recurrent bladder infections it is important to go to the bathroom right after intercourse, increase fluid intake to flush the bladder, and cranberry juice can be helpful by keeping bacteria from clinging to the wall of the bladder. Probiotics may also be helpful to increase the number of healthy bacteria in the vaginal area that would decrease the ability of bacteria that can cause UTIs to grow. In some cases antibiotics are used to prevent future infections by treating after intercourse, treating on a daily basis or allowing patients to treat whenever they feel symptoms starting.
If you are having any of these issues, please follow up with your gynecologist so the appropriate treatment options can be reviewed and if necessary, specialist referrals can be obtained in a timely fashion.
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