Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder, most often caused by an infectious pathogen. In rarer cases, it can be caused by mechanical impact and even food allergies. Typical symptoms of cystitis are a feeling of pressure in the lower pelvis, frequent urination, difficulty holding the urge and pain when urinating. An indicator of a bacterial infection is the presence of blood, darkening and an unpleasant smell in the urine. While there is a bacterial infection, you may feel tired and unwell, the body temperature is elevated. Cystitis is much more common in women because they have a shorter urethra and bacteria from the external environment reach the bladder more easily. In addition, in women, the opening of the urinary canal is located immediately next to the vagina, near the anus, from where bacteria easily migrate into the genitourinary system. Almost every woman experiences cystitis at least once, and in 1/5 of those affected, the condition recurs. Although it can occur at any age, cystitis is most common in pregnant and sexually active women. Although less common, cystitis can be very serious in the stronger sex, as it can be caused by an underlying infection of the prostate (prostatitis) or obstruction of the urinary tract due to a tumor mass or enlargement of the prostate. Treatment of cystitis in men can be painful, unlike in women. Antibiotics are the main treatment for infectious cystitis. Mild to moderate cystitis usually resolves completely in no more than 10 days. In addition to antibiotic therapy, it is necessary to drink a lot of fluids – over a liter per day. Pain and fever are treated with paracetamol or ibuprofen. The choice of medication is based on possible pregnancy or breastfeeding. Abstaining from sex during treatment often eases soreness and speeds healing. NEWS_MORE_BOX Antibiotics relieve the symptoms of infectious cystitis within a few days of starting to take them. If this is not the case, the doctor should be consulted again to clarify the antibiotic sensitivity of the pathogen. Only frequently recurring infections represent a therapeutic challenge. In these cases, it may be appropriate to take antibiotics for a longer period of time, which the doctor considers for each specific patient. Recurrent infections are more common in obese women, who have lower pelvic muscle tone. Normalizing body weight is one of the effective measures to prevent frequent urinary infections. Household measures have the highest effectiveness – using a shower instead of a bath, wearing cotton underwear instead of synthetic and avoiding tight jeans and pants. For women, it is important for intimate hygiene to use appropriate detergents, but not soap, shower gel.