Cystitis is an infection or inflammation of the bladder. It is often observed in women, it occurs exceptionally in men. About a fifth of women suffer from cystitis at least once. In men, the risk of cystitis is observed with advancing age, which is most often associated with enlargement of the prostate gland. In most cases, cystitis is caused by different strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli), which is normally found in the intestines. Cystitis is an infection that should not cause concern, but on the condition that its timely treatment is undertaken. Some people tend to have recurring cystitis, which puts them at risk of kidney infections. Therefore, experts believe that it is essential to find the reason for the recurrence of the disease. It is believed that women are more prone to the disease because of the shorter urethra – it is only about 38 mm long, which ensures easier entry of microorganisms into the bladder. Another reason is the small distance between the anus and the end of the urethra, which provides an easy passage of bacteria to the excretory system. Often the cause of cystitis is a period of more active sexual life and a high frequency of coitus. The location of the opening of the urinary canal is almost in close proximity to the vagina, which makes it possible for microorganisms harmful to the urinary tract to enter. Sex itself causes mechanical trauma to the tissues near the canal and creates conditions for inflammation. Using diaphragms to prevent pregnancy also carries a risk of developing a bladder infection. To a lesser extent, this is observed, but it also occurs with the use of condoms and spermicides. In general, pregnant women, due to the pressure exerted by the growing uterus on the organ, are also prone to cystitis. In men, cystitis is more troublesome. The infection is an indicator of another disease and the presence of an obstruction in the path of urine to pass it. It is more difficult to establish a diagnosis in the elderly, since the symptoms are often taken for a manifestation of aging. They are mistakenly accepted by patients as incontinence, which is why they do not consider it necessary to share their complaints with a doctor and, accordingly, a urine test is not undertaken. American studies show that boys in their first year of life are prone to bladder infections, due to the accumulation of bacteria between the head of the penis and the skin and their entry into the urethra. In addition to intestinal bacteria, other main culprits of cystitis are chlamydia and mycoplasma, which are sexually transmitted. In some it is impossible to discover the causes of frequent recurrence and tendency to inflammation of the bladder. NEWS_MORE_BOX Cystitis symptoms include: burning when urinating, frequent urges to urinate, unusual odor from urine, bladder spasms. Some patients report fever, abdominal pain, and blood in the urine.However, problems with more frequent discharge do not always mean cystitis. The cause of painful urination in a state of fever, blood in the urine, abdominal and back pain may be due to kidney disease, prostate infection, kidney stones and other more serious conditions. Such a picture requires consultation and receiving medical care. If a frequent visit to the toilet is accompanied by discharge of a non-specific characteristic from the vagina or penis, then this is a sign of a sexually transmitted disease, pelvic inflammatory disease or another serious infection. Painful and difficult urination can also be an indicator of a sexually transmitted infection, stones in the kidneys and urinary tract, but also a problem with the prostate or a tumor.