Regular Bladder Infections

Bladder infections most commonly occur in women, but in rare instances may also affect men. While typical bladder infections are usually minor and easily treated, regular, frequent infections can be more serious. They not only cause discomfort, but may also lead to kidney infections and kidney damage. In men, regular infections usually indicate a more serious issue such as an obstruction.

The Facts

• Bladder infections, also known as cystitis, occur more frequently in women than in men. Normal infections in are treated with a round of antibiotics, but someone who gets regular bladder infections may need a more aggressive form of treatment.

  Most common symptoms include the frequent need to urinate, especially at night and burning or pain during urination. Less common symptoms include pain in the lower back or above the pubic bone, urine with an unusual odor, loss of urine unexpectedly (especially in the elderly) and cloudy urine or urine with blood in it.

Causes

• Regular, reoccurring bladder infections in men are often caused by an obstruction or a bacterial infection of the prostate.

  In women, regular bladder infections have several possible causes. Many women get regular bladder infections every time they have intercourse, commonly called Honeymoon Cystitis. Use of a diaphragm, condoms or spermicide for birth control also can increase the frequency of bladder infections. Pregnancy can be a cause as well.

  Other causes can include a prolapsed uterus or drooping bladder, which are common in women who have given birth many times. When these occur, it makes it difficult to empty the bladder completely. After women go through menopause, a decrease in estrogen can cause tissue around the urethra to thin, which can also cause regular infections. An abnormal connection between the bladder and intestines, called a vesicovaginal fistula, allows fecal matter to pass through. This will also cause frequent infections in men as well as women.

Diagnosis

• Often, diagnosis can be made based on symptoms alone. However, doctors also perform tests to determine if there is an infection. A urine sample may be taken, sometimes with a catheter to assure a clean sample with no contamination. Urine may then be tested with test strips that show the presence of infection. It may also be cultured and looked at under a microscope to see how much bacteria is actually present.

  Other diagnostic tools include dye-enhanced x-rays may be taken to get images of the bladder, kidneys and ureters. In some cases, ultrasonography may be used instead of an x-ray. Diagnosis may also be made by looking into the bladder itself with a special viewing tube.

Treatment

• Regular bladder infections will require a stronger method of treatment than typical infections. This may involve long-term use of strong antibiotics taken for seven to 10 days. Men will need them for a period of weeks to completely kill the bacteria.

  Along with antibiotic treatment, doctors may also prescribe drugs to control bladder spasms as well as for pain. In cases where the infections are being cause by an obstruction, surgery may be required.

Prevention

• One method used to prevent reoccurring bladder infections is to drink 10 ounces of cranberry juice each day. This makes it difficult for the bacteria to hold on to the bladder wall. It is also important to drink adequate water to flush bacteria out. Some women may find that they must take antibiotics continually in a lower dose. Antibiotics are usually taken three times a week or after intercourse.

  Other unproven suggestions for prevention include urinating immediately after intercourse, wearing cotton underwear and wiping from front to back after using the toilet.