Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It FeelsDo I Have It?CausesHome RemediesTreatmentsManagement
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How It Feels
Do I Have It?
Causes
Home Remedies
Treatments
Management
Cystitis is inflammation of your bladder or lower urinary tract. In its chronic version, it is calledinterstitialcystitis. When it occurs as an acute infection (occurring suddenly or with rapid onset), it is a form of aurinary tract infection (UTI).
Treatment varies based on the cause of your problem. Infections can be treated withantibiotics. Home treatments, procedures, and certain drugs can help relieve symptoms.
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Cystitis Is Also Known as Painful Bladder Syndrome
Cystitis is also known as painful bladder syndrome or bladder pain syndrome since it typically involves symptoms of pain and pressure in your bladder and surrounding area.
Not “Just a UTI,” Though They Are Related
While cystitis differs from a UTI, the conditions are related. Cystitis is a condition that only involves your bladder. The most common cause of cystitis is bacteria, though it can also occur from a wide range of noninfectious causes such as medications or chemicals.
By definition, a UTI involves an infection of your urinary tract. This can involve any part of your urinary tract, such as yourureter(the tube that leads to your bladder), bladder, or kidneys.
Based on their definitions, cystitis and a UTI differ in these two key ways:
Acute vs. Chronic Cystitis
Cystitis can occur as an acute disease that begins suddenly. It happens as a result of germs, typically bacteria, that enter your bladder through your urethra. While some germs can be cleared from your body during urination, some can remain or grow so fast that they can’t be removed naturally; they remain and cause an infection.
Cystitis can also occur as a chronic condition that involves long-term inflammation of your bladder. Chronic cystitis can irritate and inflame your bladder wall, scarring your bladder or making it stiff. Chronic cystitis involves urinary tract symptoms that last longer than six weeks.
Cystitis can be classified as infectious or noninfectious based on the cause of the condition. Common types of cystitis include:
Infectious Cystitis
Infectious cystitis typically involves the bacteriumEscherichiacoli(E. coli), in 75% to 90% of all UTIs. Other bacteria that cause infectious cystitis include:
Noninfectious Cystitis
This includes:
Chronic Interstitial Cystitis vs. Infection-Related CystitisThere are two key categories of cystitis:Chronic interstitial cystitisis a feeling of pain and pressure in your bladder that lasts for more than six weeks without having an infection or other clear causes.Infection-related cystitisoccurs as an acute inflammation of your bladder, typically related to bacteria. It occurs suddenly and for a limited time.
Chronic Interstitial Cystitis vs. Infection-Related Cystitis
There are two key categories of cystitis:Chronic interstitial cystitisis a feeling of pain and pressure in your bladder that lasts for more than six weeks without having an infection or other clear causes.Infection-related cystitisoccurs as an acute inflammation of your bladder, typically related to bacteria. It occurs suddenly and for a limited time.
There are two key categories of cystitis:
How Cystitis Bladder Inflammation Feels
Cystitis bladder inflammation can cause feelings that range from mild to severe. These symptoms can include:
In older adults, cystitis may occur without symptoms common to the condition. However, they may experience different symptoms that include:
If cystitis remains untreated and spreads to your kidneys, you can develop akidney infection, which requires immediate medical treatment. Symptoms of a kidney infection include:
Symptoms in Females
Symptoms in women may fluctuate with their menstrual cycle. Women often report experiencing a flare duringovulation(egg is released from an ovary about midway through the menstrual cycle) and/or just beforemenstruation.
In addition to common symptoms of cystitis, women may also experience pain in the vulva or vagina.
Women may also experience pain that spreads across the abdomen or into the back. This pain often worsens with a mostly or completely empty bladder.
Symptoms in Males
Cystitis in men becomes more common with age. While rare in young men, men in their 50s and older are more likely to develop the condition as theprostategland becomes enlarged and blocks the flow of urine from the bladder.
In addition to general cystitis symptoms, men may also experience:
IBS and Interstitial Cystitis (Painful Bladder Syndrome)
Do I Have a UTI or Cystitis?
A UTI and cystitis have several symptoms in common, often complicating the process of making a crucial, accurate diagnosis. While mild cases of cystitis can improve within a few days, a bladder infection or other UTI typically requires antibiotics for seven to 14 days.
If hemorrhagic cystitis is diagnosed, it requires prompt treatment to prevent severe blood loss and permanent bladder damage. This complication of radiotherapy or chemotherapy results in persistent diffuse bleeding from the bladder tissue and can lead to severe blood loss if untreated.
Your healthcare provider uses the following tests to diagnose infectious and noninfectious cystitis:
Diagnostic Delays
Laboratory tests can identify infectious acute cystitis. However, there is no single test to diagnose interstitial cystitis. In addition, symptoms of interstitial cystitis resemble symptoms of other urinary disorders, making diagnosis a challenge.
Cystitis Causes: How Bladder Gets Inflamed
Bacteria can come into contact with your urethra as a result of:
Factors that increase your risk of acute cystitis include:
Factors that increase your risk of complicated cystitis include:
Bladder Endometriosis and Painful Bladder Syndrome
Cystitis Home Remedies for Relief
Acute infectious cystitis typically requires treatment with an antibiotic to kill the bacteria. The appropriate treatment for noninfectious cystitis depends on the cause. However, home remedies such as drinking more water and using heat therapy may help relieve symptoms until medications or other treatments take effect.
While the scientific evidence on their usefulness is inconsistent, the following home remedies may provide relief of cystitis symptoms:
The following nonprescription over-the-counter (OTC) medications may also help alleviate mild symptoms of cystitis:
Cystitis Treatment Under Provider Supervision
If you have symptoms of cystitis, a urologist can provide appropriate treatment and supervision of your condition. Treatment is based on the type and cause of your condition.
Acute cystitis that does not improve on its own typically requires a course of oral antibiotics to prevent the infection from spreading to your kidneys. Home treatments may help relieve symptoms until the infection clears.
Treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome is more complex since the cause of the condition is not clear. Treatments can include:
Pelvic floor physical therapy:This type of physical therapy is typically performed for one hour once weekly for at least 12 weeks. Its purpose is to decrease muscle tightness and pelvic pain.
Oral medications for bladder pain,including:
Intravesical installations (drugs administered into your bladder via a catheter)to repair the bladder lining and decrease nerve sensitivity include:
Cystoscopy with hydrodistention:This procedure involves filling the bladder with water to its full capacity to stretch the capacity.
Neuromodulation therapy:This advanced therapy uses harmless electrical impulses to nerves going to and from your bladder to change how they work.
Botox injections:Small doses ofBotox(onabotulinumtoxinA) can paralyze the bladder muscles to relieve pain.
Major surgery:Makes permanent physical changes to the bladder.
How to Manage Cystitis Flares
Recognizing Triggers
Learning your triggers is an important part of managing cystitis flares. Common triggers include:
Heat Therapy
Heat therapy can often provide relief of symptoms. Place a heating pad or hot water bottle directly on yourperineum(the area between the anus and vagina in women, and between the anus and scrotum in men).
Lifestyle Changes
Management of cystitis flares can also involve the following strategies:
Be Proactive
Plan ahead for flares with the following strategies:
Summary
Most cases of cystitis can be cured quickly. Minor cases may resolve on their own without treatment.
Cystitis that remains untreated may spread to your kidneys and cause an upper urinary tract infection. This is a more complex condition to treat. Knowing the symptoms of acute cystitis can help you know when to get help as early as possible.
Having chronic cystitis can be a long-term challenge. Knowing your triggers and the treatments that work best can help you manage symptoms. Contact your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of cystitis that do not resolve so you can begin treatment early for the best results.
28 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yale Medicine.Cystitis.Office on Women’s Health (OASH).Bladder pain. February 22, 2021.Urology Care Foundation.Interstitial cystitis.Yale Medicine.Urinary tract infection.MedlinePlus.Cystitis - acute. August 15, 2022.UpToDate.Patient education: diagnosis of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (Beyond the Basics).Zhanel GG, Walkty AJ, Karlowsky JA.Fosfomycin: first-line oral therapy for acute uncomplicated cystitis.Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology. 2016;2016:e2082693. doi: 10.1155/2016/2082693Petca RC, Popescu RI, Toma C, et al.Chemical hemorrhagic cystitis: Diagnostic and therapeutic pitfalls (Review).Exp Ther Med. 2021;21(6):624. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10056Engin S.Drug-related cystitis: an overview. In: Palleschi G, Cardi A, eds.Cystitis - Updates and Challenges. IntechOpen; 2023. doi:10.5772/intechopen.111503Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Catheter-associated urinary tract infections.Abramowitz DJ, Warner JN.Clinical management of radiation cystitis: a narrative review.AME Medical Journal. 2021;6(0).Beacon Health System.Cystitis. August 16, 2022.Urology Care Foundation.Urinary tract infections in adults.University of Washington.Interstitial cystitis.InformedHealth.org. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-.Overview: Acute cystitis. February 27, 2023.The University of Texas at Austin University Health Services.Urinary tract infections in men.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Interstitial cystitis.Penn Medicine.Urinary tract infection (UTI).Jefferson FA, & Linder, BJ.Hemorrhagic cystitis: making rapid and shrewd clinical and surgical decisions for improving patient outcomes.Research and Reports in Urology, 2023:15,291–303. doi:10.2147/RRU.S320684McKertich K, Hanegbi U.Recurrent UTIs and cystitis symptoms in women.Aust J Gen Pract. 2021;50(4):199-205. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-11-20-5728InformedHealth.org. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Overview: acute cystitis. February 27, 2023.Lahey Hospital and Medical Center.Acute cystitis.Wu CC, Chung SD, Lin HC.Endometriosis increased the risk of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis: A population-based study.Neurourol Urodyn. 2018;37(4):1413-1418. doi:10.1002/nau.23462Das S.Natural therapeutics for urinary tract infections-a review.Futur J Pharm Sci. 2020;6(1):64. doi:10.1186/s43094-020-00086-2National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for interstitial cystitis. July 2017.MedlinePlus.Cystitis - acute.UpToDate.Patient education: treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (Beyond the Basics). November 29, 2023.Interstitial Cystitis Association.IC/BPS flares.
28 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yale Medicine.Cystitis.Office on Women’s Health (OASH).Bladder pain. February 22, 2021.Urology Care Foundation.Interstitial cystitis.Yale Medicine.Urinary tract infection.MedlinePlus.Cystitis - acute. August 15, 2022.UpToDate.Patient education: diagnosis of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (Beyond the Basics).Zhanel GG, Walkty AJ, Karlowsky JA.Fosfomycin: first-line oral therapy for acute uncomplicated cystitis.Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology. 2016;2016:e2082693. doi: 10.1155/2016/2082693Petca RC, Popescu RI, Toma C, et al.Chemical hemorrhagic cystitis: Diagnostic and therapeutic pitfalls (Review).Exp Ther Med. 2021;21(6):624. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10056Engin S.Drug-related cystitis: an overview. In: Palleschi G, Cardi A, eds.Cystitis - Updates and Challenges. IntechOpen; 2023. doi:10.5772/intechopen.111503Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Catheter-associated urinary tract infections.Abramowitz DJ, Warner JN.Clinical management of radiation cystitis: a narrative review.AME Medical Journal. 2021;6(0).Beacon Health System.Cystitis. August 16, 2022.Urology Care Foundation.Urinary tract infections in adults.University of Washington.Interstitial cystitis.InformedHealth.org. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-.Overview: Acute cystitis. February 27, 2023.The University of Texas at Austin University Health Services.Urinary tract infections in men.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Interstitial cystitis.Penn Medicine.Urinary tract infection (UTI).Jefferson FA, & Linder, BJ.Hemorrhagic cystitis: making rapid and shrewd clinical and surgical decisions for improving patient outcomes.Research and Reports in Urology, 2023:15,291–303. doi:10.2147/RRU.S320684McKertich K, Hanegbi U.Recurrent UTIs and cystitis symptoms in women.Aust J Gen Pract. 2021;50(4):199-205. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-11-20-5728InformedHealth.org. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Overview: acute cystitis. February 27, 2023.Lahey Hospital and Medical Center.Acute cystitis.Wu CC, Chung SD, Lin HC.Endometriosis increased the risk of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis: A population-based study.Neurourol Urodyn. 2018;37(4):1413-1418. doi:10.1002/nau.23462Das S.Natural therapeutics for urinary tract infections-a review.Futur J Pharm Sci. 2020;6(1):64. doi:10.1186/s43094-020-00086-2National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for interstitial cystitis. July 2017.MedlinePlus.Cystitis - acute.UpToDate.Patient education: treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (Beyond the Basics). November 29, 2023.Interstitial Cystitis Association.IC/BPS flares.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Yale Medicine.Cystitis.Office on Women’s Health (OASH).Bladder pain. February 22, 2021.Urology Care Foundation.Interstitial cystitis.Yale Medicine.Urinary tract infection.MedlinePlus.Cystitis - acute. August 15, 2022.UpToDate.Patient education: diagnosis of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (Beyond the Basics).Zhanel GG, Walkty AJ, Karlowsky JA.Fosfomycin: first-line oral therapy for acute uncomplicated cystitis.Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology. 2016;2016:e2082693. doi: 10.1155/2016/2082693Petca RC, Popescu RI, Toma C, et al.Chemical hemorrhagic cystitis: Diagnostic and therapeutic pitfalls (Review).Exp Ther Med. 2021;21(6):624. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10056Engin S.Drug-related cystitis: an overview. In: Palleschi G, Cardi A, eds.Cystitis - Updates and Challenges. IntechOpen; 2023. doi:10.5772/intechopen.111503Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Catheter-associated urinary tract infections.Abramowitz DJ, Warner JN.Clinical management of radiation cystitis: a narrative review.AME Medical Journal. 2021;6(0).Beacon Health System.Cystitis. August 16, 2022.Urology Care Foundation.Urinary tract infections in adults.University of Washington.Interstitial cystitis.InformedHealth.org. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-.Overview: Acute cystitis. February 27, 2023.The University of Texas at Austin University Health Services.Urinary tract infections in men.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Interstitial cystitis.Penn Medicine.Urinary tract infection (UTI).Jefferson FA, & Linder, BJ.Hemorrhagic cystitis: making rapid and shrewd clinical and surgical decisions for improving patient outcomes.Research and Reports in Urology, 2023:15,291–303. doi:10.2147/RRU.S320684McKertich K, Hanegbi U.Recurrent UTIs and cystitis symptoms in women.Aust J Gen Pract. 2021;50(4):199-205. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-11-20-5728InformedHealth.org. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Overview: acute cystitis. February 27, 2023.Lahey Hospital and Medical Center.Acute cystitis.Wu CC, Chung SD, Lin HC.Endometriosis increased the risk of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis: A population-based study.Neurourol Urodyn. 2018;37(4):1413-1418. doi:10.1002/nau.23462Das S.Natural therapeutics for urinary tract infections-a review.Futur J Pharm Sci. 2020;6(1):64. doi:10.1186/s43094-020-00086-2National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for interstitial cystitis. July 2017.MedlinePlus.Cystitis - acute.UpToDate.Patient education: treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (Beyond the Basics). November 29, 2023.Interstitial Cystitis Association.IC/BPS flares.
Yale Medicine.Cystitis.
Office on Women’s Health (OASH).Bladder pain. February 22, 2021.
Urology Care Foundation.Interstitial cystitis.
Yale Medicine.Urinary tract infection.
MedlinePlus.Cystitis - acute. August 15, 2022.
UpToDate.Patient education: diagnosis of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (Beyond the Basics).
Zhanel GG, Walkty AJ, Karlowsky JA.Fosfomycin: first-line oral therapy for acute uncomplicated cystitis.Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology. 2016;2016:e2082693. doi: 10.1155/2016/2082693
Petca RC, Popescu RI, Toma C, et al.Chemical hemorrhagic cystitis: Diagnostic and therapeutic pitfalls (Review).Exp Ther Med. 2021;21(6):624. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10056
Engin S.Drug-related cystitis: an overview. In: Palleschi G, Cardi A, eds.Cystitis - Updates and Challenges. IntechOpen; 2023. doi:10.5772/intechopen.111503
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Catheter-associated urinary tract infections.
Abramowitz DJ, Warner JN.Clinical management of radiation cystitis: a narrative review.AME Medical Journal. 2021;6(0).
Beacon Health System.Cystitis. August 16, 2022.
Urology Care Foundation.Urinary tract infections in adults.
University of Washington.Interstitial cystitis.
InformedHealth.org. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-.Overview: Acute cystitis. February 27, 2023.
The University of Texas at Austin University Health Services.Urinary tract infections in men.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Interstitial cystitis.
Penn Medicine.Urinary tract infection (UTI).
Jefferson FA, & Linder, BJ.Hemorrhagic cystitis: making rapid and shrewd clinical and surgical decisions for improving patient outcomes.Research and Reports in Urology, 2023:15,291–303. doi:10.2147/RRU.S320684
McKertich K, Hanegbi U.Recurrent UTIs and cystitis symptoms in women.Aust J Gen Pract. 2021;50(4):199-205. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-11-20-5728
InformedHealth.org. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Overview: acute cystitis. February 27, 2023.
Lahey Hospital and Medical Center.Acute cystitis.
Wu CC, Chung SD, Lin HC.Endometriosis increased the risk of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis: A population-based study.Neurourol Urodyn. 2018;37(4):1413-1418. doi:10.1002/nau.23462
Das S.Natural therapeutics for urinary tract infections-a review.Futur J Pharm Sci. 2020;6(1):64. doi:10.1186/s43094-020-00086-2
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for interstitial cystitis. July 2017.
MedlinePlus.Cystitis - acute.
UpToDate.Patient education: treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (Beyond the Basics). November 29, 2023.
Interstitial Cystitis Association.IC/BPS flares.
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