Cystitis

Causes & Risk Factors

The main cause of cystitis is a bacterial infection. Bacterial infections are known as urinary tract infections (UTIs) and occur mostly in women. The main bacteria that causes infection is Eschericia coli, but other bacteria can also cause infection.

Other causes of cystitis are:

• Chronic cystitis – long-term inflammation of the bladder that occurs mostly in women. The cause is unknown and it can be hard to treat.
• Certain medications – very specific drugs, such as chemotherapy medication, can inflame the bladder as urine leaves the body.
• Radiation – radiation therapy used to treat cancer can irritate the bladder tissue and cause cystitis.
• Chemicals – Some people are very sensitive to certain products that their bladder comes in contact with. Specific examples are chemicals in a bath bomb or deodorising hygiene spray. In this case, a person may experience a kind of allergic reaction in their bladder.
• Use of a catheter – if someone has a catheter in their bladder – a tube to help them urine- for a long period of time, it can cause irritation and hurt the tissues of the bladder, leading to cystitis.
• Secondary cystitis – cystitis can be an effect of a condition that is already present. Common examples are kidney stones, diabetes, or a swollen prostate.

Risk factors for cystitis include:

• Sexual activity- females get cystitis almost exclusively. Healthy males rarely get it.
• Spermicide or a diaphragm (a cup in the vagina that helps stop sperm from reaching the eggs) as a birth control method
• Pregnancy
• Post-menopause