Persistent Bladder Infections

A bladder infection (also called a urinary tract infection or cystitis) is an inflammation of the urinary system, specifically the bladder. A persistent bladder infection is one that recurs repeatedly even after it has been properly treated. Although sometimes painful and always inconvenient, persistent bladder infections are relatively harmless and easily treated. You should be observant of symptoms so that you can seek treatment as soon as possible.

The Bladder's Function

• The urinary bladder (also just called the bladder) is a hollow sac that sits in your pelvis. Its main job is to hold urine for storage. Every ten to fifteen seconds, your kidneys send urine to your bladder through the ureters, small thin tubes. When your bladder is full, its nerves send a message to your brain. The bladder is held close by a circular muscle called the sphincter. When the bladder tells your brain that it is full, your brain tells the sphincter to release its hold. The bladder then pushes the urine into the urethra, a thin tube that takes the urine out of the body.

Causes

• Bladder infections are usually caused by bacteria that are normally found on the skin or in the intestinal tract. That bacteria usually enters the urinary system through the urethra, causing infection as it makes its way up the urinary tract. Persistent bladder infections can be caused by unhygienic behavior, such as not changing your underwear often enough or by not washing your genitals at least once a day. Regular sexual contact can expose the urethra to bacteria in some women. If you must use a catheter to empty your bladder, that can expose your urethra to bacteria, too.

  Some persistent bladder infections have underlying causes, like kidney disease or a deficient immune system. If you get more than three or four infections a year, your health care provider may run further tests to make sure that there are not underlying causes.

Symptoms

• If you have persistent bladder infections, you should be aware of the symptoms. The first symptom is often an increase in the urge to urinate. In some cases, you may feel an increase in the urge to urinate but little or no urine comes out. The urine that does come out may be darker or smellier than usual. There may even be blood in the urine. Bladder infections can also manifest themselves as burning or cramping when you urinate. The burning and cramping can be present in your urethra, pelvis or lower back.

Treatments

• Most health care providers treat bladder infections with antibiotics to kill the bacteria. If you experience persistent bladder infections, you may not want to take antibiotics every time. Prescriptions can be expensive and can also lead to antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria if overused. If your persistent bladder infections are mild, you can often treat them with plenty of fluids and over the counter pain medication until the infection has run its course. If your infection lasts longer than a few days, you should see your health care provider because it may be more serious than a simple bladder infection.

Prevention

• The best treatment for persistent bladder infections is prevention. You should start by keeping good hygiene. Change your underwear often and keep your genitals dry and clean. Wash your genitals every day with mild soap and warm water but avoid soaps that have fragrances or dyes. You should also urinate after sex to flush bacteria from your urethra and wash your genitals afterwards. You can also take cranberry or vitamin C supplements to fight oncoming infections. If you have persistent bladder infections and your health care provider hasn't tested your for other diseases or conditions that may be causing them, you should ask him to. Treating the underlying conditions can prevent further bladder infections.