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Cystitis after sex
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Inflammation of the urinary tract is called cystitis in medicine. In women, the disease occurs more often, especially after sexual intercourse. The main symptoms of the disease are frequent urination and severe pain, all of which affects all areas of a woman's life. Cystitis after sex differs from normal inflammation of the urinary tract. Symptoms of the disease can appear very soon after sex, as a result of which a woman cannot lead a full sexual life, experiences discomfort and severe pain.
Causes cystitis after sex
The main cause of inflammation after sexual contact is a bacterial infection - pathogenic microorganisms from a man penetrate into the woman's bladder.
Inflammation of the urinary tract after sexual intercourse can occur for several reasons, mainly physiological development anomalies. The opening of the urethra in some women is located close to the exit from the vagina and bacteria easily penetrate into the bladder. Another cause of cystitis can be poor personal hygiene, both by women and men. Dirt and bacteria from hands or genitals can get into the genitourinary system and provoke inflammation. In addition, the disease can be caused by combining anal and vaginal sex in one sexual act. Among the bacteria that cause cystitis, there is E. coli, which, when it gets into the genitourinary system, can cause extremely unpleasant consequences.
Cystitis after sex can also develop due to sexually transmitted diseases, rough sex, and insufficient natural lubrication. Any damage to the mucous membrane leads to excessive proliferation of pathogenic microflora and inflammatory processes.
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Pathogenesis
Pathogenic microorganisms enter the bladder through the urethra; this route of infection is also called urethral or ascending.
Cystitis after sex occurs mainly when bacteria enter, but a kind of “push” is required for the onset of inflammatory processes; in other words, the disease develops if there are predisposing factors, such as decreased immunity, impaired emptying of the bladder.
Symptoms cystitis after sex
Cystitis after sex has several differences from acute cystitis. First of all, the symptoms of the disease appear in the first few hours after sexual contact (usually in the first 24 hours).
Severe pain occurs during urination, after the process of emptying there remains a feeling of a full bladder, a feeling of cutting in the lower abdomen, blood may appear in the urine, and a rise in temperature is possible.
Some symptoms may be milder or not present at all.
Cystitis in women after sex
Women are more likely to suffer from inflammatory processes of the urinary tract, since the structure of the female genitourinary organs is very different from that of men. The urinary canal in women is wider and shorter, and it is easier for microbes to penetrate inside. Pathogenic bacteria multiply in the bladder and cause inflammation.
Cystitis after sex is a common problem in women, so women with this problem need to know what provokes inflammation after intimacy and what preventive measures there are.
Cystitis in men after sex
Such a disease as cystitis after sex has an ascending route of infection, i.e. the infection penetrates through the urethra into the bladder, where the pathogenic microorganisms multiply. In men, this route of infection is almost never encountered, but the principle of treatment and prevention of the disease are the same as in women.
Cystitis after unprotected sex
Cystitis after sex usually occurs in women predisposed to the disease (less often in men), most often it is provoked by an abnormally mobile urethra. During intimacy, the urethra opens, into which the male member pushes bacteria from the vagina, which leads to inflammation.
First signs
The first signs of postcoital cystitis are a strong urge to urinate, usually occurring suddenly. Symptoms may appear either immediately after sex or 1-2 days after intimacy.
Cystitis after sex is manifested by a feeling of constant filling of the bladder, frequent urge to urinate, which is accompanied by pain, burning, and cutting. Often, the body temperature rises, pain and discomfort appear in the lower abdomen.
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Where does it hurt?
Complications and consequences
If you ignore the first signs of the disease, the disease can develop into a more severe form, which is more difficult to treat. An infection from the bladder can penetrate into other organs and provoke an inflammatory disease of the kidneys. In addition, if cystitis occurs after sex every time, a woman eventually loses sexual desire, and this, in turn, leads to insecurity, nervous tension in a woman, disagreements between partners, etc.
Self-medication has become widespread recently, and women who already know their problem can take a course of antibiotics immediately after intercourse, but regular use of such drugs can cause other, more serious problems (in particular, inappropriate use leads to antibacterial resistance, i.e. the drugs are powerless in the fight against pathogenic microorganisms).
In addition, antibiotic treatment is contraindicated for pregnant women, and cystitis in this situation can provoke spontaneous abortion, premature birth, and fetal growth retardation. All experts agree that cystitis requires professional and complete treatment, otherwise not only physical problems but also psychological ones are possible.
Complications
Cystitis after sex is dangerous due to its complications, like any other inflammation. The most severe is the transition of the inflammatory process to the kidneys, and blood impurities may also appear in the urine. In addition, the woman's psyche may suffer - fear arises before sexual intercourse, the woman refuses intimacy due to fear of acute symptoms of the disease (pain, fever, burning, etc.).
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Diagnostics cystitis after sex
To confirm the diagnosis of postcoital cystitis, a general blood and urine test, urine culture, vaginal smear examination, ultrasound, endoscopic examination, as well as a consultation with a gynecologist who can identify abnormal structure of the genitals are prescribed.
Tests
If the doctor diagnoses postcoital cystitis (or cystitis after sex), additional examination is required for confirmation. First of all, tests are prescribed - a general blood test (the basis for diagnosing most diseases), urine (a study of the chemical and physical properties of urine, which can indicate pathological processes in the body), bacteriological urine culture (reveals an infection in the urinary tract), and a vaginal smear test (allows you to identify pathogenic bacteria).
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Instrumental diagnostics
Instrumental diagnostics, as the name suggests, is carried out using instruments. Cystitis after sex can be confirmed by the following methods:
- Ultrasound.
- cystoscopy.
Ultrasound for cystitis is performed in several ways: through the abdominal cavity, through the urethra and through the rectum. Regardless of the method, the examination is performed on a full bladder.
A rectal examination is performed if there is a suspicion of organ pathology; in other cases, an ultrasound scan through the abdominal wall is chosen.
An ultrasound of the kidneys is prescribed if the symptoms of cystitis are accompanied by back pain, which may indicate kidney inflammation.
Cystoscopy is an examination of the urinary tract using a special optical system. Today, there are two types of systems: mobile and rigid.
A rigid cystoscope helps to examine the urinary tract, while a movable one allows the image to be displayed on a monitor.
What do need to examine?
How to examine?
What tests are needed?
Differential diagnosis
Differential diagnosis involves excluding diseases that have similar symptoms and ultimately reducing them to a single possible diagnosis.
If there are signs of cystitis (painful and frequent urination, changes in the composition of urine, etc.) and a high temperature, then this condition may be caused by inflammation of the renal pelvis, but not the bladder; if there are traces of blood or pus in the urine, tumors and the formation of stones in the bladder should be excluded.
If cystitis after sex bothers you for a long time and is difficult to treat, you should undergo a full examination; possible causes include papillomas, tumors, tuberculosis, inflammation and hypertrophy of the prostate gland, etc.
Signs of cystitis, not confirmed by the presence of bacteria in the urine, may be associated with the penetration of anaerobic bacteria, gonococci, ureaplasma, chlamydia, viruses into the urinary tract. In this case, bacterial culture on special media is required.
Most often, a specialist must differentiate cystitis from a fairly common female disease - cystalgia. The disease occurs exclusively among the female population of the planet, characterized by frequent and painful urination, pain in the lower abdomen. Cystolgia has not been fully studied, but according to some data, it is associated with hormonal disorders, circulatory disorders due to pathological processes in the genitals and other organs of the genitourinary system.
When making a diagnosis, the doctor relies on the patient's complaints and the results of a urine test.
Who to contact?
Treatment cystitis after sex
In case of cystitis, inflammatory foci in the vagina are eliminated with the help of local antifungal and antibacterial drugs. If a venereal disease is detected, then a course of treatment with a specialist is required for both partners. In case of anatomical features of the urinary system, the doctor may recommend surgical treatment - transposition of the urethra (lifting above the vagina), if necessary, the surgeon excises the remains of the hymen, which pull the urethra.
After the operation, recovery takes 7-15 days; in 85% of cases, the operation allows you to forget forever about what cystitis after sex is.
Medicines
The main treatment for postcoital cystitis is primarily aimed at blocking the spread of infection. If the disease is caused by bacteria, antibiotics are prescribed - Ofloxacin, Monural, for viral infections - Cycloferon, for fungal infections - Fluconazole, etc.
Ofloxacin belongs to the group of fluoroquinolones, has a broad spectrum of action. The drug is prescribed at 200-60 mg per day, the course of treatment is up to 10 days.
In case of liver failure, no more than 400 mg per day is prescribed. During treatment, dizziness, drowsiness, vomiting, and confusion may be a concern.
This drug should be used with caution in combination with antacids containing calcium, aluminum, magnesium, iron salts, antiarrhythmic drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticosteroids, and urine alkalizing drugs.
Ofloxacin is contraindicated during pregnancy, for people under 18 years of age, and epilepsy.
Cycloferon is an antiviral and immunomodulatory drug. It is prescribed once a day before meals (30 minutes) at 450-600 mg.
Contraindicated during pregnancy and individual intolerance to the components of the drug, as well as for children under 4 years of age, taken with caution in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and thyroid gland.
The antifungal drug Fluconazole is prescribed up to 8 capsules per day, as the condition improves, the dosage is reduced to 4 capsules. The course of treatment depends on the clinical picture, on average from 6 to 8 weeks. It should be taken with caution simultaneously with rifampicin, hypoglycemic agents, cyclosporine, theophylline, rifabutin, zidovudine, cisapride, zidovudine, hydrochlorothiazide.
The main treatment is supplemented with drugs that help reduce the unpleasant symptoms of the disease and normalize the functioning of the urinary system - painkillers No-shpa, Nurofen, herbal preparations Cyston, Kanefron, as well as medicinal infusions or decoctions of lingonberry leaves, knotweed, corn silk (help relieve inflammation and have a diuretic effect), immunostimulating drugs Proteflazid, Lavomaks, vitamin complexes.
In inflammatory processes, the introduction of antiseptics through the urethra, warming up, gymnastic exercises, diet and drinking in large quantities help well. Cystitis after sex with the correct treatment and following all the doctor's recommendations goes away within a week, but it is better to take immunostimulants, herbal preparations and vitamins longer (2-3 weeks).
With this disease, it is extremely important to undergo a full course of treatment, otherwise cystitis will become chronic and it will be much more difficult to cure the pathology.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine is often used to relieve inflammation in the bladder, however, such recipes should only be used after a preliminary consultation with a specialist. Urologists often supplement traditional treatment with traditional treatment, but it is worth remembering that cystitis after sex requires a comprehensive approach and should include taking antibiotics, antispasmodics, uroseptics and other medications.
In folk medicine, one of the most effective ways to treat cystitis is warming up with a hot brick. The procedure requires a brick (preferably red) heated over a fire, which is placed in an enamel bucket, then you need to sit on the bucket and wrap your lower body well with a warm blanket. After 15-20 minutes, you need to thoroughly wipe the wet areas of the body and immediately go to bed. To enhance the effect, you need to drip a little birch tar onto the hot brick before the procedure.
Herbal treatment
Among the folk methods of treating cystitis, herbal infusions and decoctions are widely used. St. John's wort, common aspen, field horsetail, hop cones, and hernia will help relieve inflammation and unpleasant symptoms.
For chronic inflammation, a decoction of St. John's wort is recommended - 15 g per 250 ml of boiling water, boil for about an hour, strain, drink up to 4 times a day, 125 ml.
To prepare the following decoction, you will need aspen twigs or bark, as well as leaves (30 g), pour 500 ml of cold water, boil over low heat until half the liquid evaporates. During the day, the decoction should be drunk in small portions.
For chronic inflammatory processes in the acute stage, horsetail helps well - pour 30 g into 1 liter of boiling water and boil for about 15 minutes, strain, take 200-250 ml 3 times a day.
A decoction of hernia relieves spasms and has a diuretic effect - pour 15 g with 250 ml of boiling water, boil for 5 minutes, cool and strain, drink after meals up to 3 times a day, 15-20 ml.
An infusion of hop cones is quite effective: pour 30 g into 500 ml of boiling water, leave for an hour, strain, drink half a glass in the morning and evening.
Homeopathy
Homeopathic remedies not only help reduce the symptoms of cystitis after sex, but also help eliminate various urinary tract infections.
The choice of the drug depends on the symptoms experienced. Spanish fly helps with burning, painful and frequent urination. The drug is effective in cases where a woman becomes irritable against the background of bladder inflammation, unpleasant symptoms are aggravated by the use of caffeine, alcohol, etc.
During treatment with Spanish fly, constant warmth, heating, and plenty of hot drinks are required.
For spasmodic pain, use the emetic nut, which helps to get rid of unpleasant symptoms faster with adequate rest and constant warmth (do not freeze). If moral fatigue or nervous tension occurs during treatment, the effectiveness of the drug decreases several times, and during treatment, it is also contraindicated to drink coffee, alcohol, spicy food.
Barberry is used for acute and burning pains that occur with inflammation of the bladder. Homeopaths may choose this remedy if the patient is apathetic, tired, and has poor concentration.
Tiger lily is prescribed for stabbing pains, burning during urination, frequent urges, when a small amount of urine comes out during urination. A distinctive feature of this remedy is that improvements occur if the patient is in a cool, well-ventilated room, but under the influence of heat, the drug can cause a deterioration in the condition.
Caustic soda is prescribed when the patient experiences a strong and constant urge to go to the toilet, but there are problems with urination. In the warmth against the background of treatment, the patient's condition improves, cold, consumption of cold drinks, caffeine and other stimulants aggravate the symptoms of the disease.
Surgical treatment
Cystitis after sex is treated mainly with therapeutic means; surgical treatment may be required in case of physiological developmental anomalies, for example, when the urethra is located close to the vagina, which leads to trauma to the canal and infection in the bladder.
During the operation, the surgeon moves the opening of the urethra to its proper place. After surgical treatment, there are practically no complications and the problem of cystitis after sexual intercourse for women remains in the past forever.
Prevention
Cystitis after sex occurs when pathogenic microorganisms enter the urinary system, so as a preventative measure, both women and men should carefully observe hygiene.
Partners should use a condom during every sexual intercourse, avoid positions that cause pressure or rubbing of the urethra, use special lubricants if natural lubrication is insufficient, and promptly treat gynecological diseases. Experts recommend emptying the bladder before and after sexual intercourse, which will wash out most of the bacteria that have entered the bladder.
Forecast
With such a pathology as cystitis after sex, the prognosis is favorable in most cases, especially if the treatment is carried out under the supervision of a specialist.
Self-medication, taking antibiotics after each sexual intercourse can cause unwanted reactions of the body and form drug resistance, in which case the prognosis is less favorable.
Cystitis after sex is an unpleasant disease that not only causes unpleasant symptoms, but can also affect a woman's sex life (possibly fear of sexual intercourse, refusal of sex due to fear of pain, etc.). It is worth remembering that self-medication can lead to undesirable consequences; with cystitis, the main thing is a comprehensive approach and compliance with all doctor's recommendations.