Prevention of Bacterial Cystitis
There are steps that you can take to prevent attacks of bacterial cystitis.
Try to drink enough fluid each day to keep your urine dilute – it should be the colour of straw.
Water or diluted squash are best. Try to avoid alcohol, pure fruit juices, tea or coffee as they can dehydrate you and irritate the bladder. For more advice about food and drink see the bacterial cystitis diet web site.
Bacteria thrive in warm moist conditions. It is better if you can avoid tight clothing – especially underwear! Although this is good advice it is not always possible to do so, there may be occasions when the ‘wrong type’ of underwear (such as a throng) is right for you. Just try to limit the times you wear this type of clothing. Try to wear clothes made of natural materials such as cotton and linen, (without heavy seams in the gusset area). These materials will allow the circulation of air and may prevent the bacteria from multiplying.
After going to the toilet wipe your bottom from front to back. We all have bacteria living in our bowel and, as long as they remain there, most of them will be harmless.
When they reach the urethra they can travel up it to the bladder and cause bacterial cystitis. Wiping your bottom from front to back helps to keep any bacteria from the bowel from entering the urethra.
It is a good idea to empty your bladder as soon as you feel the need. If you ‘hold on’ to urine it becomes more concentrated. Not emptying the bladder properly also results in the urine left behind becoming concentrated.
Concentrated urine provides a breeding ground for bacteria and can result in cystitis developing.
For Women Only
To make sure you empty the bladder sit down properly on the toilet seat. Do not squat over the toilet as this position does not allow your bladder to empty fully. If you are concerned about the cleanliness of the toilet seat, particularly when you use public loos, try using the antibacterial wipes that are now on sale in the household cleaning departments of supermarkets. These come in packets small enough to keep in your bag, some are flushable, but if they are not, remember to dispose of them in a bin otherwise the toilet will block.