Risk factors of cystitis as sex triggers 60% of recurrent UTIs
It's Valentine's Day today and many couple will be looking to take advantage of the romance and ramp up the intimacy.
But a medical expert has warned of an additional risk that could come with a rise in sexy time this February 14 - cystitis.
The NHS says cystitis is a urinary tract infection (UTI) which affects the bladder. While it is a common condition, especially in women, symptoms of cystitis can be debilitating and go from bad to worse in a short span of time.
The main symptoms include pain or a burning sensation when you urinate, as well as feeling the urge to pee more often and urgently than usual.
Patients may also see that their pee is dark, cloudy or strong-smelling, and may experience pain low down in their tummy.
While, cystitis often "gets better by itself", but may need to be treated with antibiotics. The NHS advises seeing a GP if your symptoms have not cleared up within three days or become more severe, such as severe pain in the lower tummy.
Men and children can also get the infection, but is most common among women, with an estimated 60% of women experiencing cystitis during their lifetime.
And the 36% of couples who typically have sex on Valentine's Day could be at increased risk.
Women's health expert Dr Catherine Hood, who is an advisor to cystitis medication Effercitrate Tablets, explains to Yahoo UK why upping the intimacy could lead to the infection.
Sex and other risk factors of cystitis
Estimates show that sex-induced cystitis accounts for around 60% for recurrent cases, which Dr Hood says demonstrates sex as a key trigger of cystitis for millions of women in the UK.
"As cystitis is mostly caused by bacteria from the rectum, movements during sex help move these bacteria up the urethra into the bladder," she explains.
Love making positions can also come into play here.
"Sex from behind, in particular, can inflame the urethra," Dr Hood continues. "Oral sex can also transfer bacteria from a partner’s mouth."
Using a diaphragm for contraception may also increase the cystitis risk as well as hormonal changes including those during pregnancy and the menopause.
"Cystitis may also occur as a reaction to hygiene products and spermicidal jelly," Dr Hood adds.
How to prevent cystitis
In order to avoid the infection, Dr Hood recommends staying well-hydrated, drinking 2 litres of fluid each day, and wearing cotton underwear, as well as avoiding tight-fitting trousers to reduce sweating, which could lead to irritation.
The direction in which you wipe after going to the toilet is also important to avoid cystitis. "Always wipe your bottom from front to back when you go to the toilet," Dr Hood explains.
Other preventative measures include visiting the toilet and emptying your bladder before and after sex, and drinking a large glass of water after having sex.
"It is important to drink a lot as this strengthens your pee stream and reduces the chances of bacteria managing to stick to the wall of your bladder and urinary tract," Dr Hood says.
"Effective hydration will generally make you pee more often, flushing the bacteria out."
Changes to your diet and lifestyle can also help prevent cystitis with Dr Hood recommending a healthy diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables. "Plus limit your intake of fruit juices, alcohol and sugary drinks and foods as they can irritate the bladder," she adds.
If you get frequent bouts of cystitis there are some other steps you can take to try to avoid it recurring including not using perfumed products on your genital area and having showers rather than baths, as this stops exposing your genitals to cleaning products for too long.
What do do if you do get cystitis
If you do get cystitis, you should drink plenty of water and take medication such as Effercitrate Tablets, which dissolve in water and contain potassium citrate and citric acid to make urine more alkaline and soothe the bladder and urethra lining.
If you have mild symptoms of cystitis, the NHS says it can help to:
take paracetamol up to four times a day to reduce pain
drink plenty of water
hold a hot water bottle over your lower tummy
avoid having sex
avoid drinks that may irritate your bladder, like fruit juices, coffee and alcohol
pee frequently
The NHS also recommends asking a pharmacist about cystitis treatments.
A pharmacist can:
offer advice on things that can help you get better
suggest the best painkiller to take
tell you if you need to see a GP about your symptoms
Some pharmacies offer a cystitis management service. They may also be able to give antibiotics if they're needed.
If your symptoms worsen or don’t go away within a couple of days, you should call your GP practice or visit a walk-in centre.
Read more about cystitis:
Living with a chronic UTI: 'The pain feels like I'm sitting in acid' (Yahoo Life UK, 8-min read)
What is a chronic UTI? Symptoms, causes, antibiotic resistance and treatments (Yahoo Life UK, 8-min read)
‘Hidden’ bacteria could explain chronic urinary tract infections (PA Media, 2-min read)
