wonderberry health
Stay well, keeping your urinary tract on track
By Professor Stuart L. Stanton
Emeritus Professor of Urogynaecology, St George's Hospital Medical School, London
Urinary tract infection is inflammation of the bladder (cystitis) or the kidney. Cystitis can be caused either by a bacterium such as E. coli, or rarely by non-bacterial agents. It is estimated that 20% of women in the United Kingdom, primarily between the ages of 20 and 56, will suffer from cystitis. Each year 5% of women attend their family doctor because of urinary tract infections [1].
Anyone who has suffered the excruciating pain of cystitis will tell you that it is a condition which needs prompt treatment. Common symptoms include pain on passing urine, frequency, urgency and difficulty in passing urine with abdominal pain.
If cystitis is not treated, a serious kidney infection may develop, so if symptoms persist beyond 24 hours, you should see a doctor.
There is no sure method of prevention, but some sensible steps include:
- Drink plenty of fluid, especially water - around two litres a day
- Empty your bladder every three to four hours
- Use alternatives to condoms and spermicides, which can alter the friendly bacteria in the vagina
- Wipe from front to back after you have been to the toilet
- Pass water as soon after as possible after intercourse
- Drink water before and after sexual activity to clear any bacteria that may have entered
- Avoid douches and highly perfumed toiletries
Almost 20% of women suffer from cystitis in the UK every year.
References
- Chaliha C & Stanton SL (2003) Urinary Tract Infections, in Gynaecology (3rd edn) Shaw R, Souttar W and Stanton SL. Chapter 58, pp 857-865, Churchill Livingston, Edinburgh.