A bladder infection can cause the following symptoms in a woman: pain when urinating, frequent urination, difficulty or inability to stop when the urge arises, pain in the lower abdomen, blood in the urine, painful urethra and difficulty urinating. Fever is not part of a bladder infection, but is a sign of a kidney infection. You can often treat a ‘normal’ (uncomplicated) bladder infection by drinking a lot. Drinking enough fluids every day is also recommended to prevent a bladder infection, in addition to all kinds of other advice that we will discuss below.
Cystitis in women
- What is a bladder infection?
- How does a bladder infection occur?
- Risk factors for bladder infection in a woman
- Sexual intercourse
- After the transition
- Pregnancy
- Abnormalities of the urinary tract
- Recurrent bladder infection
- Complications of bladder infection
- Symptoms of bladder infection in a woman
- Treat bladder infections
- Preventing bladder infections
What is a bladder infection?
Where is your bladder located? / Source: Lennert B, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-2.5)” onclick=”openImage(this);”> Where is your bladder located? / Source: Lennert B, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-2.5)
With a bladder infection or cystitis, the mucous membrane of the urinary bladder is inflamed, which is usually caused by coliform bacteria from the rectum. A bladder infection is not contagious, but can occasionally return. Cystitis is common, especially in women aged 15-24 years and in women over 60 years of age.
How does a bladder infection occur?
In almost all cases of cystitis, intestinal bacteria are involved. These intestinal bacteria are normally found in the area around your anus, but they can also be found around the urethra. Sometimes they manage to enter the bladder through the urethra, where they cause inflammation of the mucous membrane and multiply and spread further. The vagina contains other acidic bacteria (so-called ‘lactic acid bacteria’) that counteract intestinal bacteria by creating an acidic environment in the vagina, which protects the vagina against the most harmful microorganisms. However, under certain circumstances, intestinal bacteria can still manage to enter the bladder through the urethra, where they stick to the bladder wall and can thus cause inflammation. Especially with a poorly functioning bladder, but also when the lower part of the body cools down in autumn or winter, bacteria can see their opportunity to invade. These intestinal bacteria can enter the vagina or urethra relatively easily in women, partly due to the location of the opening of the urethra. The distance between your anus and the vagina and entrance to the urethra is small in women. Moreover, the urethra is only 3 cm in women and as much as 20 cm in men.
Urinary tract / Source: La Gorda/Shutterstock.com
Risk factors for bladder infection in a woman
It is not known why one woman never gets a bladder infection and another very often. However, there are some risk factors that increase the chance of getting a bladder infection.
Sexual intercourse
Having sexual intercourse is the greatest risk factor for developing bladder infections. It is suspected that bacteria enter the urinary tract from the vagina through the movements during sexual intercourse and are pushed to the bladder. You cannot reduce the risk by having sex with a condom. Moreover, women who use condoms with spermicidal lubricant are more likely to develop a bladder infection. The risk of bladder infections increases once a woman becomes sexually active.
After the transition
After menopause, bladder infections also become more common in women, due to the fact that there are fewer acidic vaginal bacteria present that play a protective role by creating an acidic environment in the vagina.
Pregnancy
The risk of bladder infections is greater during pregnancy.
Abnormalities of the urinary tract
Congenital or acquired abnormalities of the urinary tract that, for example, prevent you from properly emptying your bladder, increase the risk of (recurring) bladder infections. Inability to empty the bladder properly also plays a role in women after menopause. You are also more likely to get a bladder infection if you have bladder stones or kidney stones, a urinary catheter, or in case of reduced resistance, such as diabetes. In addition, family predisposition plays a role, especially if your mother also had bladder infections in the past.
Woman at GP / Source: Istock.com/AdamGregor
Recurrent bladder infection
If you suffer from recurring ‘normal’ bladder infections, a GP only needs to refer you to a urologist if more than five bladder infections occur in a year. The GP may also decide to refer you earlier if he or she sees reason to do so.
Complications of bladder infection
A bladder infection can spread to the ureters (ureteritis) and renal pelvis (renal pelvis inflammation or pyelonephritis). Often the cause is an unnoticed or improperly treated bladder infection. If you feel ill and suffer from a fever, you probably not only have a bladder infection but also a kidney infection. Always contact your GP if you suspect a kidney infection.
Symptoms of bladder infection in a woman
A bladder infection can cause the following symptoms:
- pain when urinating or a burning sensation during urination;
- feeling the urge to urinate more often, but each time you urinate less than normal;
- having to get out of bed at night to urinate;
- the urge to urinate can be painful;
- pain in the lower abdomen or back;
- cloudy urine or blood in the urine;
- no fever, at most some elevation.
With a renal pelvic infection you feel sicker, a fever occurs and you often also have pain in your flank or side.
Treat bladder infections
Cranberry Products / Source: Peggy Marco, Pixabay
With a bladder infection, it is important to keep your urinary tract flowing properly by drinking and urinating a lot. This may be sufficient for a mild bladder infection. However, if this does not resolve your complaints, your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic. Women who are more likely to develop renal pelvic infection always start antibiotics immediately. Examples are women who are pregnant, women with reduced resistance (due to diabetes, for example) or women with certain abnormalities of the urinary tract. If infections are (partly) caused by blockages, this underlying cause will also have to be addressed. A woman who often has a bladder infection after menopause can use estriol cream or vaginal pills to make the mucous membrane around the urethra less vulnerable. If research shows that you are not emptying your bladder enough, or that urination could be easier, the doctor will refer you to a recognized pelvic physiotherapist.
Preventing bladder infections
Observe the following advice to prevent a bladder infection:
- Some women get a bladder infection quickly after sexual intercourse. Urinating thoroughly after sex can help prevent this.
- If you suspect that condoms or spermicidal lubricant continue to cause a bladder infection, consider switching to other contraception.
- Drink enough, preferably more than two liters per day, evenly distributed throughout the day.
- Urinate regularly and do not delay urination unnecessarily, but go to the toilet as soon as you feel the urge.
- Empty the bladder completely.
- Always pee before going to sleep.
- Cranberry products can sometimes help prevent a bladder infection, if you use them consistently every day.
- After going to the toilet, wipe your buttocks from front to back. This prevents bacteria from the feces from reaching the urethra.
read more
- Bladder infection symptoms and treatment with cranberry juice
- Cystitis during pregnancy: symptoms and causes
- Cystitis in men and women: causes and symptoms
- Treating bladder infections yourself: natural treatment
- What to do in case of bladder infection? Drink water and cranberry
