Cystitis is a disease that affects the urinary system of the female or male body. This pathology literally represents an inflammatory process in the bladder, especially in its wall. Many people wonder whether men have cystitis, since this pathology is more typical for women. However, men are also susceptible to this disease.
The difference between male and female cystitis is not only in the frequency of the lesion, but also in the reasons for its occurrence. If in women the pathology often develops initially, then in men the inflammatory process occurs as a complication of another disease.
The pathogens that cause cystitis in men and women can be different. Most often, the inflammation is caused by the bacterium Escherichia coli, but instead Staphylococcus, Proteus and various protozoa, for example Trichomonas, can deposit on the bladder wall. A separate class is pathogens of sexually transmitted infections, complications of which can be cystitis.
Etiology
The causes of cystitis symptoms in women are:
- Any untreated (or unexpectedly detected) disease of the genitourinary system is often inflammatory in nature (both specific, for example, venereal and nonspecific);
- Chronic pathologies of one of the body systems (especially in the acute stage);
- Hypothermia (that is, less general than local in the genital area and pelvic organs, for example, sitting on cold concrete);
- Professions requiring prolonged sitting (desk and other positions);
- Chronic stool disorders (constipation);
- Poor personal hygiene of the genitals;
- Experiences in sexual life (i. e. changing from anal contact to vaginal contact without first changing the condom or water procedures on the part of the partner);
- Tight and synthetic underwear, as well as jeans, tights, pants;
- Insufficient number of urinations per day (at least 5 times normal);
- Non-compliance with personal hygiene during menstruation is one of the frequent causes of cystitis in women;
- Immunodeficiency states of any genesis (both primary immunodeficiencies and decreased immunity caused by stress, excessive physical exertion).
Unlike women in the male body, the proper observance of the rules of intimate hygiene is often a sufficient measure to prevent inflammation. And even then, cystitis can occur as a complication of advanced urethritis. However, there are a number of factors that cause pathology.
Causes of Cystitis Symptoms in Men:
- Inflammatory processes (acute and chronic) in the prostate gland, urethra, testicles and its appendages;
- Abnormalities in the anatomical structure of the urethra (e. g. strictures) that cause stagnation of urine;
- Urolithiasis or foreign bodies entering the urinary system;
- The presence of venereal inflammatory pathologies (gonorrhea is mostly complicated by cystitis);
- Pyelonephritis or tuberculosis of the kidneys (damage is due to the descending route of infection);
- Inflammatory processes in the body of a man (rarely);
- Injuries to the organs of the urinary system or directly to the bladder;
- Incorrectly performed diagnostic and therapeutic manipulations on the organs of the genitourinary system;
- Diabetes is a dangerous predisposing factor.
Symptoms
Despite the etiological differences in the development of the inflammatory process, the clinical picture of the disease in both sexes is not different. Signs of cystitis in men and women:
- Frequent (and often false) urge to urinate;
- Pain during urination (pain is burning or cramping, intense, brief, characterized by an increase in amplitude towards the end of urination);
- Pain of a permanent nature (in women in the lower abdomen, and in men in the penis or pubis);
- Decreased amount of urine with a single urination;
- Subfebrile temperature and general signs of the inflammatory process (weakness, fatigue, pallor, dizziness) are characteristic of bacterial cystitis.
Since this pathology is characterized by a chronic form of cystitis, it should be clarified that the clinical picture in such cases will be unclear. All of the above symptoms will be pronounced only during periods of exacerbation. In remission, patients may experience pain in the abdomen or groin, or frequent urination.
Classification
In addition to acute and chronic forms of the disease, there are also different types of cystitis.
- Bacterial (or infectious) cystitis. This form can be specific or non-specific. The disease is caused by infectious agents, mainly bacteria. Specific pathological options are sexually transmitted diseases that can be complicated by symptoms of cystitis in both men and women.
- Interstitial cystitis. This form is caused by agents not of an infectious nature, but of a mechanical or chemical nature. In this case, all layers of the bladder are affected until the appearance of perforated ulcers. Factors that can cause disease are injuries, chemicals and physical influences.
- radiation cystitis. This form of cystitis stands out as a separate form due to the specifics of occurrence. Basically, the type of radiation is considered interstitial, but it does not occur due to accidental exposure to a factor, but in the treatment of oncological diseases. To a greater extent, this applies to the occurrence of symptoms of acute or chronic cystitis in men, since their pelvic organs are often exposed to radiation from prostate cancer.
- Hemorrhagic cystitis. In fact, this form is a complication of ordinary cystitis and is characterized by bloody impurities in the urine from the bladder. Impurities can be both microscopic, ie invisible to the naked eye, and abundant (haematuria).
Illness during pregnancy
Cystitis in pregnant women in the early and late stages is a serious pathology that requires high-quality treatment. Women are more prone to bladder inflammation than men due to anatomical features, however, pregnant women are at risk for a number of additional reasons:
- Reduce the body's resistance to infectious pathogens;
- Insufficient supply of the bladder due to the pressure of a large uterus on the blood vessels that supply it;
- Hormonal changes.
It is congestion and reduced immunity that lead to the development of cystitis during pregnancy. The main feature of the inflammatory process in pregnant women is its asymptomatic course, which is not always the case, but always occurs. Therefore, a routine examination of a woman should be thorough and aimed at identifying hidden pathologies. Treatment of cystitis during pregnancy is necessary, but difficult, since taking strong antibiotics can harm the fetus.
Therefore, in this situation, they try to limit themselves to local therapy in the form of instillations. If this does not help, antibiotics are prescribed, which are the least dangerous for the unborn child.
Manifestation after sex
The most common cause of cystitis after intimacy is the anatomical feature of the location of the urethra in the female body. If it opens on the eve of the vagina, the infection is greatly simplified. Among the causes of cystitis after sexual intercourse, scar tissue changes after deprivation of virginity in a girl are also distinguished.
Such adhesive formations have a mechanical effect on the urethra and prevent its closure. Hormonal changes also contribute to the fact that women develop cystitis after sex, since the protective properties of all mucous membranes in the body are weakened. Abstinence from sex is a risk factor for cystitis after sex, and the longer there is no sex, the more likely cystitis will appear the next time you get close.
Diagnostic
A vivid clinical picture in acute cystitis is a sufficient indicator for making a diagnosis, one for chronic or erased forms of the disease, a number of studies are prescribed. To identify signs of cystitis in women and men, use:
- Clinical blood test (to detect the inflammatory process);
- Urinalysis (to detect leukocytes or microhematuria);
- Bacterial culture of urine (the causative agent is determined and a test for sensitivity to antibiotics is immediately carried out);
- Studies for the detection of venereal pathology (serological studies, PCR);
- Specific urine studies;
- Cystoscopy (done as a last resort with ongoing processes).
When the diagnosis is confirmed, immediate treatment for cystitis should be instituted.
Treatment
The basis of the treatment of this inflammatory disease are antibacterial drugs (if the pathology is caused by an infectious agent). Preparations for cystitis in women and men should be very sensitive to the pathogen, therefore a special test is carried out beforehand. Yes, its results apply antibacterial tablets for cystitis in women and men with a wide spectrum of action. In addition to drugs for the treatment of cystitis in women, collargol instillations are very effective.
Such therapy is acceptable for pregnant girls where antibiotics cannot be used, and as an additional treatment in advanced cases. Herbal preparations are widely used for cystitis in women and men, or in another way herbal remedies. They are used in combination with antibiotics or if the cystitis is mild and does not require intensive treatment.
Symptomatic drugs for cystitis in men and women are antispasmodics that relieve pain. Or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which relieve pain and also reduce inflammation in the bladder.
To prevent the side effects of antibiotics for cystitis in men and especially in women, probiotics are prescribed. In women, the correct microflora of the vagina is important, therefore it is necessary to take these drugs.
If the inflammatory process was caused by a primary pathology, the basis for the cure of cystitis will be to get rid of this disease. Of particular importance is the treatment of prostate damage in men and sexually transmitted infections in both sexes. For the additional treatment of chronic cystitis in women and men, physiotherapy procedures are used. They are prescribed after eliminating the severity of the process or during periods of remission.