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About Cystitis

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What is Cystitis?

  • Cystitis is inflamation of the bladder. It's more often caused by a bacterial bladder infection.
  • It can cause pain when you wee and make you feel like you need to wee all the time.
  • Anyone can get cystitis, but it's more common in women then men.
  • Cystitis is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI) but it can be triggered by sex among other things.
  • Cystitis often gets better without treatment. It can also be treated with antibiotics.
  • Some people get cystitis lots of times and may need regular treatment to stop it coming back.
  • Cystitis does not usually cause serious problems but can sometimes lead to a kidney infection which will need treatment as soon as possible.

Cystitis Symptoms

Cystitis is usually caused by bacteria (germs) from your gut getting into the bladder and causing inflammation (pain, irritation or swelling).

Infections in the bladder or the urethra (wee tube) are called urinary tract infections or UTIs.

Cystitis in Women

Women are more likely than men to get cystitis.

You may have:

  • Pain, stinging or burning when you wee.
  • A need to wee in the night more often than usual.
  • A need to wee more often and urgently than usual, even if not much wee comes out.
  • Dark, cloudy or strong smelling wee, sometimes with blood in it.
  • Pain low in your tummy.

Cystitis in Men

Men can get cystitis but it's less common than for women. It's most likely to occur in men over 50.

The Symptoms are the same for women.

Cystitis in children and older people

Children and older people with cystitis may have additional symptoms.

Cystitis tests and check-ups

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Cystitis Treatment

Cystitis can be annoying and painful, but it does not always need medical treatment and often clears up on its own in a few days.

If your symptoms are mild it can help to:

  • Take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen
  • Drink enough water or other fluids to stop you feeling thirsty
  • Avoid coffee, fruit juice, fizzy drinks and alcohol as they may irritate your bladder
  • Try to wee often, even if it's painful
  • Put a hot water bottle on your tummy if it's painful
  • Not have sex until symptoms have gone

There is no evidence cystitis sachets, cranberry juice or other cranberry products can help cystitis get better. They may help to stop it coming back – see below ()

If you have cystitis, a doctor or nurse may:

  • Recommend painkillers and following the steps above
  • Give you antibiotic to take for 3 days
  • Give you antibiotics prescription but suggest waiting 48 hours before taking them; this gives symptoms a chance to get better

Antibiotic treatment for cystitis is not available over the counter, but some pharmacists have a cystitis management service and may be able to prescribe you antibiotics.

You’ll usually need to pay a prescription charge for cystitis antibiotic treatment.

How long does cystitis last for?

For many people, cystitis goes away on its own within a few days.

If you have antibiotics:

  • Symptoms usually improve after 1 to 2 days
  • The cystitis is usually cured by the time you've taken all the treatment
  • If you still have symptoms after finishing antibiotic treatment, go back to your GP or clinic. You may need more treatment or other tests

How can I stop cystitis coming back?

You can get cystitis more than once. It’s common to get it again within 3 to 6 months.

If you get it 2 or more times in 6 months or 3 or more times in a year, it’s called recurrent cystitis.

The following may help lower the chance of recurrent cystitis:

  • Wipe form front (vagina) to back (bum) when you go to the toilet.
  • After sex, wee as soon ass you can.
  • Wash your genitals with water before and after sex, but avoid douching and any perfumed products like soap, bubble bath and shower gel.
  • Keep the genitial and anal areas clean and dry.
  • Drink lots of water.
  • Go for a wee as soon as you know you need one.
  • Try to empty your bladder fully when you wee.
  • Have showers, not baths.
  • Wear cotton underwear, rather than synthetic.
  • Avoid tight trousers and jeans.
  • If you use a diaphragm or cap with spermicide or gel, consider using a different method of contraception. Spermicide is not needed with condoms.
  • Reduce the amount of coffee and alcohol you drink.
  • Reduce how much sugary food and drink you have.

Some people find it helpful to take cranberry products like tablets or capsules or a sugar called D-mannose. These products are often high in sugar and not suitable if you take the medicine warfarin.

Recurrent cystitis treatment

If you keep getting cystitis, there are different options to treat the cystitis and try to stop it coming back:

  • Low-dose antibiotics taken for up to 6 months.
  • If sex triggers cystitis, you may be offered antibiotics to take after having sex.
  • If you've been through menopause, vagianl oestrogen cream can help.

For some people, symptoms don’t go away after treatment or tests don’t find an infection even though you have symptoms. In this case, further tests and treatment may be needed. It’s possible you may have a long-term bladder infection or a condition called bladder pain syndrome, sometimes called interstitial cystitis.

Do I have to tell anyone if I have cystitis?

Cystitis is not an STI, so you don’t need to tell current or recent partners or avoid sex unless you want to. Some people find symptoms clear up more quickly if they don’t have sex while they have cystitis. You may find it helpful to talk to a partner if you want to avoid sex due to cystitis.

How do you get cystitis?

Cystitis is not an STI and can’t be passed from one person to another.

Most cases of cystitis are caused by bacteria (germs) such as E. coli that are found in poo. If the bacteria get into the urethra (wee tube) they can travel to the bladder and cause an infection.

Anyone can get cystitis. It’s more likely in people with a vagina than people with a penis. This may be because people with a vagina have a shorter urethra, so bacteria can reach the bladder more easily.

If you have a vagina, you’re more likely to get cystitis if you:

  • Are pregnant
  • Are sexually active
  • Have been through the menopause
  • Have diabetes

    • Common things that may increase the chance of bacteria getting into the bladder include:

  • Wiping from back (bum) to front (vagina) after going into the toilet
  • Using spermicide/gel with diaphragms, caps or condoms

    • Is cystitis serious?

    For most adults, cystitis will not cause any serious problems.

    In some cases, cystitis can lead to a kidney infection which can be very serious. It’s important to get medical help straight away, for example by calling 111, if you may have cystitis and have any of these symptoms:

    • A high temperature or low temperature
    • Shaking, shivering or chills
    • Blood in your wee
    • Pain low in the tummy or in the side or back
    • Feeling sick or vomiting
    • Feeling confused, sleepy or having trouble speaking
    • You have not done a wee all day

    If you get cystitis when you’re pregnant, it can cause problems with the pregnancy. If you’re pregnant, you’ll be tested regularly for urinary tract infections (UTIs).

    Cystitis and other UTIs can safely be treated when you are pregnant.

    Other information about cystitis


    face profile of DR John White
    Reviewed by Dr John White on 12th Aug 2026.