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There is nothing glamorous about urinary infections, but  when it comes down to it – they affect a gosh darned awful lot of us!
According to stats around 40% of women will experience Cystitis at one stage or another – that dreaded feeling of busting to go to the loo every five minutes, getting there and feeling your like trying to pee out razorblades…and still nothing comes! Worst of all, Cystitis is most common for women in their reproductive years – between the ages of 20 and 50. So ladies, now is the time to listen up and get clued in on what Cystitis is and how to tackle it!  What is it?Cystitis is an irritation of the bladder – bacteria creeps up into the normally sterile lower urinary tract (which is made up if your uretha, the tube through which your urine passes from the bladder to the outside, and bladder). When the organisms multiply faster than normal urination can remove them, infection arises. As a result your bladder becomes infected and inflamed, causing a frequent need to pee and an irritating burning sensation when you do go. How do I get it?
Cystitis is especially prevalent in women because of our short urethas. It often occurs in women who are new to sex, pregnant or going through menopause. It can also be caused by irritating agents including bubble baths, perfumes (even feminine hygiene sprays!) and sanitary pads.
 What do I need to look out for?Pain or burning feeling on urination. An urgent need to pee. Frequent urination. Weird coloured urine. Blood in your urine. A strong or unpleasant urine odour. Pain in lower stomach or lower back. Fever, chills, general malaise, vomiting, overall fatigue.
What can I do?
Just because you have one or more of the symptoms, doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to book a doctors appointment straight away! Mild cases of cystitis will often disappear with no medical treatment at all. Try these simple at home treatments to minimise pain and discomfort:  - Drink 2-3 glasses of water at the first sign of symptoms. Continue to drink water throughout the day to help flush out the bacteria.
- Have a warm bath, and then keep the genital area clean and dry.
- Avoid having sex and using diaphragms and spermicides.
- Avoid tampons – use pads instead.
- Wear cotton underwear.
- Avoid alcohol, fruit juices, strong coffee, tea, or fizzy drinks as they make your urine more acidic - the greater the level of acidity the greater the burning sensation.
- Don’t use vaginal deodorants.
- Wear cotton underwear.
- Consider using panty liners and change them a couple of times per day.
- Take a pandol to help ease the pain.
- Take a urinary alkaliniser to help reduce burning when you pee (you can get these from the chemist but ask for assistance as an alkaliniser may interfere with other medicines).
 It’s time to admit defeat when…Although it’s great to try and clean up the infection yourself, these measures will only help if you have a mild case of Cystitis. More serious cases will require professional medical attention – otherwise if untreated it can lead to more serious kidney infections (which you definitley don’t want!). Don’t be put off – your doctor won’t need to whip off your pants! All you need to do is a simple urine test, and the doctor can prescribe you with antibiotics; you’ll be good as new in no time!
Visit your doctor if... - Your symptoms last for more than 24 hours.
- You have a fever, nausea or vomiting.
- There is pain or tenderness in your lower stomach or lower back.
- There is blood in your urine or you have an unusual vaginal discharge.
- You are or you think you could be pregnant.
- The infection keeps coming back.
 How can I prevent Cystitis?
Just a few simple precautions will help ensure that you stay healthy and clear of infections down there!
- Drink as much water as you can.
- Take the time to completely empty your bladder when going to the toilet.
- Go toilet straight away (when you can) don’t hold on.
- Dab with toilet paper rather then wipe.
- Pass urine straight after you have sex.
- Wash your vagina before and after having sex.
- Use a water based lubricant, rather than an oil based one, when having sex.
- Wear cotton gusseted undies.
- Take cranberry tablets or drink cranberry juice daily – it helps make urine less acidic.
Most importantly, don't feel embarassed by Cystitis! It's a lot more common than you'd think, and there's no need to let the discomfort linger for any longer than it is has too!
Ramarea
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