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25. March 2024

Finally free from cystitis: How Bethesda Hospital can help with chronic conditions

Women in particular are affected by bladder infections. They often heal on their own. The specialists at Bethesda Hospital can help with acute and chronic cases. The Bladder and Pelvic Floor Centre stands for cutting-edge medicine combined with the usual personal support.

Bladder inflammation, also known as cystitis, occurs twice as often in women compared to men. This is favoured by the shorter urethra in women and the proximity of the urethral opening to the anus: the most common triggers for cystitis are Escherichia coli bacteria, which are part of the human intestinal flora. Symptoms of cystitis include a frequent urge to urinate, pain or burning when urinating, difficulty urinating and pain or cramps in the bladder area.

25 per cent chronic

Half of all women have a bladder infection once in their lives. Almost one in five women get it a second time and 30 per cent of them even get it a third time. In 25 per cent of these women, the disease becomes chronic. Inflammation of the bladder also depends on the stage of life. In under 12 to 25-year-olds, 70 women out of 1000 are affected - in middle age it is less common. Twice as many over 75s suffer from bladder inflammation. Men are usually only affected by cystitis in connection with bladder diseases (tumour, bladder stone) or prostate (obstruction)

«"After 40 years of chronic cystitis and regular use of antibiotics, the bladder and pelvic floor centre at Bethesda Hospital helped me sensitively and sustainably."»


Verena Jost, former patient

What helps?

In 50 to 70 per cent of cases, acute cystitis heals spontaneously. The first step is to drink more to flush the bacteria out of the bladder. Bladder teas with appropriate herbal ingredients are useful for this. Accompanying painkillers with a decongestant effect can be taken, and antibiotics can help in more persistent cases.

In the case of chronic and recurring inflammation, you should concentrate on prophylaxis. Preventive measures include, for example

- drink plenty of fluids
- Empty the bladder after sexual intercourse (within an hour)
- correct anal toilet (wiping direction from the vulva to the anus)
- Avoid intravaginal irrigation or disinfection
- Avoid hypothermia and cold drinks

Also helpful:

- taking D-mannose (a simple sugar that is excreted unchanged in the urine) to stir into a drink
- Protective care of the skin and mucous membranes in the genital area (ointments/creams)
- numerous herbal products
- Bladder irrigation to regenerate the protective layer of the bladder
- Acidification of the urine using tea, juices or medication

FAQs on cystitis

We have compiled the most frequently asked questions about cystitis, answered by our medical experts.

Do you have any other questions that are not answered here? Please feel free to contact us - we will be happy to help you.

Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder mucosa caused by intestinal bacteria, usually E. coli bacteria. Affected women feel a frequent urge to urinate and experience pain when urinating and in the bladder. The typical acute bladder inflammation in women is often referred to as "honeymoon cystitis", as it often occurs after sexual intercourse. Men are usually only affected in connection with diseases of the bladder (tumour, stone) or prostate (obstruction).

Typical symptoms of cystitis are

  • Pain or burning when urinating
  • difficult urination (dysuria)
  • constant urge to urinate
  • Urge to urinate at night
  • Pain and cramps in the bladder area

The infection is usually harmless. However, if the inflammation occurs repeatedly, a urine culture to determine the pathogens and sensitivity to antibiotics may be useful. If necessary, investigations such as an ultrasound examination of the bladder for residual urine, cystoscopy and further radiological examinations of the kidneys and urinary tract (ultrasound, CT, MRI) may also be considered.

Contact us for an initial non-binding consultation.

No, the diagnosis of cystitis, the most common form of urinary tract infection, is not serious. The infection is usually harmless. In a detailed discussion with your doctor, you can describe your symptoms, after which the diagnosis can be made. If necessary, this can also be done using a rapid urine test (U-Stix).

If the inflammations occur repeatedly, a urine culture to determine the pathogens and sensitivity to antibiotics is useful. Other options include an ultrasound examination of the bladder for residual urine, cystoscopy and, if necessary, further radiological examinations of the kidneys and urinary tract (ultrasound, CT, MRI).

The simplest treatment is to drink more to flush the bacteria out of the bladder. However, as this is usually painful, you can also alleviate the symptoms for a few days with painkillers, decongestants or antibiotics. If more than two inflammations occur in six months or more than three per year, this is a chronic form. In chronic cases, prophylactic measures should be prioritised. Do not hesitate to contact our specialised team for advice.

Never reduce the amount you drink - this is counterproductive and will make everything worse

This depends on whether you manage to increase the amount you drink and treat the pain - then things can improve quickly.

Yes, there are numerous, scientifically proven alternative therapy approaches. Talk to us about them!

An irritable bladder probably occurs after numerous inflammations in which the mucus layer that lines the bladder wall and protects it from direct contact with urine has been destroyed. Regeneration can be accelerated by administering medication directly into the bladder (instillation) or with tablets.

If blood is still detectable or pain persists even after the inflammation has healed, a cystoscopy is certainly advisable.

Further information on the bladder and pelvic floor centre