FAQs

I recently commenced having sex and now every time I wee, and I need to lots, it burns and hurts like hell ,what's wrong have I caught an STI or what please help!!!!

Answer

Cystitis is usually caused by the woman's own bowel bacteria getting into her bladder and overgrowing there to cause an infection. Sometimes symptoms can be linked to sexual activity.

Most women with cystitis find that they need to urinate much more often and that it burns like crazy when they do, and they have an urgent desire to empty their bladder, but when they get to the toilet they can only dribble out a spoonful and it hurts.

You need to see a doctor who will ask you to do a mid-stream urine test to find out which antibiotic is suitable. He/she will usually start you on a course immediately, but it is important to get your results so you know you are taking the correct antibiotic to cure the infection.

You will start to get symptom relief within 24 hours it is also important that you complete the whole course of antibiotics.

There are some sexually transmitted infections, in particular chlamydia, which can also irritate the urinary tract and can make you feel as though you could have an ordinary urinary tract infection. So whenever you notice any symptoms that feel like cystitis, you really do need medical attention you also need to tell the doctor if you have had unsafe sex with a new partner.

Getting the right treatment is really important because chlamydia is not killed off by the antibiotics which are used to treat an ordinary urinary tract infection.

Here are some simple measures which may help relieve the discomfort while waiting for your anti biotic treatment to work

-Drink as much water as you can, to dilate your urine and help flush our the infection
-Empty your bladder whenever you fee lthe urge: never try ot hold on if you have a urinary infection. Be sure to completely empty the bladder each time.
-Avoid coffee, strong teas, cola drinks (caffeine irritates the bladder) and alcohol.
-Take something to make your urine alkaline, such as a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in a glass of water, or one of the urinary alkalinizes which your chemist can recommend.
-Avoid intercourse until all the symptoms are gone

Measures that can help prevent cystitis reoccurring

-Empty your bladder before and after sex
-Wipe from the front to the back when you go to the toilet
-Drink at least 2 litres of water a day.
-Do not use any feminine hygiene products and some soaps. They can act as an irritants.