Cystitis Treatment & Relief

What is Cystitis? 

Cystitis is a bacterial infection in the bladder, also known as a UTI (urinary tract infection). Cystitis is caused by bacteria travelling up the urethra.

Cystitis is most common in females. Although less common, men can get Cystitis too.

Why is Cystitis more common in females?

A female’s urethra is short, about 1.5 inches (3 to 4cm), whereas a man's urethra is longer, measuring between 7 -8 inches (20cm). The shorter the urethra the easier it is for bacteria to grow there.

What causes Cystitis?

Cystitis is caused by bacteria reaching the urethra.

The most common cause of Cystitis is from sexual intercourse. To help prevent bacteria from reaching the urethra during sex:

• Go for a wee before and after sex
• Wash your genitals, front to back, with warm water before and after sex

Other causes of Cystitis can be:

• A weakened immune system
• Not keeping the genital area clean
• Pregnancy
• Kidney stones
• Not drinking enough fluid
• Having a urinary catheter
• Conditions that make it harder to empty the bladder such as an enlarged prostate

What are the symptoms of Cystitis?

Cystitis can present as the following uncomfortable symptoms:

• Pain and burning when urinating
• Lower back and stomach pain
• The need to urinate more frequently
• Discoloured/cloudy-looking urine
• Feeling hot and cold/shivering

The symptoms of a UTI range from mild to severe, depending on the person and the severity of the infection.

How to treat Cystitis at home

There are things you can do to relieve the symptoms of Cystitis at home, like:

Drinking plenty of fluids – Drinking lots of fluid dilutes urine and causes you to pee more often, which can flush the infection out of the urethra.

Drinking cranberry juice – While there is still a lack of medical evidence, cranberry juice could be used to both prevent Cystitis and may help to stop a current infection from worsening. This is because the sugars in cranberries, called proanthocyanidins (PAC) block the bug (E. Coli) which is the main cause of UTIs, from sticking to the lining of the bladder.

Take pain relief – Paracetamol is a good option when you are suffering from Cystitis, not only should it ease the pain, but it will also control your temperature.

Avoid acidic drinks – Acidic drinks like alcohol, fruit juice, coffee and tea can all irritate a sore urethra.

Pee more often—This may not always be easy, especially as Cystitis can cause painful urination. However, the more you urinate, the more likely you are to help flush the infection out of the urethra.

Apply a hot water bottle– You can place a hot water bottle on your lower tummy to ease the aches and pains from Cystitis, heat application has been proven to lessen pain.

Avoid having sex – Sex should be avoided while you have Cystitis. Having sex with a UTI may worsen the symptoms, sex can encourage more bacteria into the urethra and risks worsening the infection.

Can you treat Cystitis without antibiotics?

Sometimes, you can treat Cystitis with at-home remedies, and sometimes, a course of antibiotics is needed.

Different types of antibiotics are used to treat Cystitis, like Nitrofurantoin. Nitrofurantoin comes in 100mg prolonged-release capsules. A doctor will establish whether this is the best course of treatment for you.

These antibiotics are for the UTI treatment in WOMEN ONLY. If you are male and think you have a UTI, you should contact your doctor. Alternatively, if it’s a bank holiday or weekend or your doctor isn’t available, call NHS 111.

At Oxford Online Pharmacy, we may prescribe a 3-day course of Nitrofurantoin 100mg prolonged-release capsules for the treatment of Cystitis. If suitable, our UK-registered doctors can prescribe this treatment after completing an online consultation.

Should these be prescribed, you must always finish the full 3 days, even if you are feeling better.

Most women experience Cystitis more than once and are aware of the symptoms. However, if this is the first time you are experiencing Cystitis or you are not sure, you can order a Urine Infection test kit online. This test kit is available to buy from Oxford Online Pharmacy and you can expect to receive your order the next day. * The test kit is easy to use and after taking the test, you will get the results within a few minutes from the comfort of your home.

Begin a Cystitis consultation for treatment delivered as quickly as tomorrow. *

*Only if appropriate. Delivery timings can be affected over the weekend or a bank holiday, refer to our website for more information.

Important message: If you place an order after 3 pm on a Friday the soonest that your antibiotics can be delivered is Tuesday morning - if you become more unwell or your symptoms worsen, contact NHS 111.

Can you take Cystitis relief sachets with antibiotics?

No, this is not recommended, as the sachets can stop the antibiotics from working as well as they should.

What are Cystitis relief sachets?

Cystitis relief sachets, known by the brand name Cystopurin, contain the active ingredient potassium citrate. This works to neutralise high levels of acid in your urine, relieving the symptoms of Cystitis, like pain when you pee.

Cystopurin sachets also contain cranberry, cranberry may help protect the bladder from infection.

These powder sachets should be poured into a glass containing 600ml of water and stirred well before drinking. The recommended dose is one sachet three times daily for two days.

You can buy a 2-day course of Cystopurin cystitis relief sachets here.

Can a man take Cystitis relief sachets?

Cystitis relief sachets are NOT to be used by men unless instructed by your GP. If you are a male with suspected Cystitis, you should consult your doctor. We do not provide Cystitis relief services for men.