Cystitis is a common urinary tract infection (UTI) affecting women, with approximately half of women experiencing the condition at least once. It occurs when bacteria enter the urethra, reach the bladder and start to multiply, and is most common among those who are sexually active or are pregnant.
The symptoms usually include pain while urinating, needing to urinate more often, lower abdominal pain and dark, cloudy or strong-smelling urine. Thankfully, popular treatment can quickly relieve the irritation and the infection can usually be flushed out by drinking plenty of water.
As one of the UK’s trusted online pharmacies, all our prescription cystitis treatments are approved by the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
What is Cystitis?
The most common type of urinary tract infection (UTI), which is characterised by the inflammation and pain of the bladder. Symptoms for this condition include a swollen bladder, pungent and dark urine, abdominal pain, and painful urination.
What causes Cystitis?
You can get cystitis when harmless bacteria that normally live in the bowel or skin finds a way into the urine through the urethra (tube from where the urine is excreted). This can happen due to:
- Having sex
- Inserting a tampon
- Wiping your bottom back to front
- Inserting a catheter
- Using a diaphragm for contraception
Cystitis is more common in women as their urethra is shorter and closer to their anus, so it easier for the bacteria to get into the bladder.