Looking at Cystitis
Many women have experienced cystitis at some point in their lives. It is often the result of a bacterial infection that afflicts the urinary tract. There are times when a particular medication a woman is using triggers an infection. Women who are undergoing chemotherapy or radiation can also be affected by it.
The symptoms of cystitis can vary though most women will suffer one or more common symptoms. It often results in a woman feeling "under the weather." A low fever is often noted when one is suffering from it. A woman who has it will usually feel a frequent urge to urinate though she may only be able to pass small amounts of urine each time. It can cause burning and pain when urinating. It often causes a strong odor in the urine. Pelvic pain may be present as well. It is not uncommon for a woman who suffers from cystitis to also have problems with yeast infections or vice-versa.
A woman should contact her primary care physician if she notices a persistence of any of the above mentioned symptoms. In most cases, a doctor can diagnose it rather easily by using a urinalysis. Other methods of diagnosis might be used if the doctor believes you have cystitis but is not able to identify the condition through a urinalysis.
When a bacterial infection is the culprit, doctors will usually prescribe a round of antibiotics to treat it. The antibiotics will need to be taken as prescribed for a few days. Women often start to feel better after a few doses of antibiotics, but it is important to use the full amount prescribed to ensure that the infection has gone away completely.
It is not always as easy to treat it if it has resulted from chemotherapy or medication. A woman can experience quite a bit of pain from this type of cystitis and might therefore be given pain medication. Doctors will also want to make sure a woman is well hydrated to help flush out toxins from the urinary tract system.
Any women who experiences frequent problems with this condition should talk to her doctor. Sometimes more invasive treatment needs to be used if a woman is unable to keep these infections away. Cystitis can sometimes even be treated in part by using perfectly natural remedies. By Richard Allen
