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 Woman’s
  Health Specialist Dr Catherine Hood from Effercitrate A lot of women tell me after having sex with their partner they then
  experience cystitis a day or two afterwards.  Some have also confided
  they experience reoccurring episodes of cystitis after intercourse that is
  affecting their sexual relationship with their partner, resulting in either
  abstinence or increased levels of stress and anxiety when having sex.   Estimates show that sex-induced cystitis accounts for around 4% of lower
  urinary tract infections (UTI), with this figure rising to 60% for recurrent
  cases[1],
  demonstrating sex as a key trigger of cystitis for millions of women in the
  UK.  In this latest e-news we take a look at the relationship
  between cystitis and sex.   What is cystitis? Cystitis is inflammation of the bladder and can be caused by a urinary
  tract infection.  It  is a very painful condition causing burning
  pain when you pass urine, passing urine frequently, or having the urge to
  pass urine frequently. There may be blood in the urine and the urine may be
  cloudy and smell more or different from normal. You may also have a high
  temperature and feel feverish.   Cystitis is very common, particularly in women and most women will have
  cystitis at least once in their lifetime and up to one in three[2] women will have recurrent cystitis.   What’s the
  relationship between sexx and cystitis? Cystitis is 30 times more common in women than in men, and sexually active
  women have on average one episode of cystitis every 2 to 3 years.[3]   This is because women have a shorter urethra (the tube through which urine
  leaves the body) and the opening is located very close to the anus
  (bottom).  This makes it easier for bacteria present in the large bowel
  to reach the bladder and cause an infection.   Factors
  that increase the risk of cystitis in women include sexual intercourse, the
  use of spermicide, a new sexual partner in the last year and the use of
  contraceptive diaphragms.    As 90%[4] of
  cystitis is caused by bacteria from the rectum, movements during sex help
  move these bacteria up the urethra into the bladder. Movement during
  sex may also cause damage to the urethra and this slight damage can
  cause bacteria to thrive and infect the urethra and bladder.    With
  oral sex, bacteria can still be introduced to the urethra by the movement of
  your partner’s mouth and cause an infection. Love making positions can also
  come into play here. Sex from behind, in particular, can inflame the urethra.
  This applies to sexual relationships between males as well as relationships
  between men and women.  Whilst
  symptoms of cystitis are far more common in women than men, cystitis can
  sometimes occur in men, especially those between the ages of 15 and 50,
  especially if they are sexually active, take part in anal sexx and/or are
  uncircumcised.  Cystitis in men is often a symptom of an infection so
  they should see a doctor if it’s recurrent.  The risk of cystitis with
  any sexual activity is increased if you don’t pee afterwards. If you are
  prone to cystitis, it’s important to have a large glass of water every time
  you have sex, so you can then go for a pee.     Soothing Cystitis To soothe the symptoms of cystitis and provide swift relief Effercitrate Tablets
  are a simple, drinkable, palatable solution to take when cystitis strikes - vital for
  those suffering from cystitis. Busting cystitis fast is essential as it can
  be very debilitating.  
   Available without the need for a prescription or a urine sample, the lemon
  and lime flavoured effervescent tablets contain the ingredient potassium
  citrate when dissolved – which makes the urine more alkaline, helping to
  soothe the
  bladder and urethra lining and relieve discomfort caused by the infection. Simply dissolve two tablets
  into a glass of water (this is where the ingredients become active and do
  their job). Drink the pleasant
  lemon and lime solution. Relief
  provided from the burning irritation and discomfort caused by cystitis.   
   What can I do to
  reduce the risk of cystitis after sex? Healthy self-care
  around sex is important, particularly if you suffer from frequent bouts
  of cystitis. Dr Catherine Hood, sexual health expert on behalf of www.effercitrate.co.uk
  shares her top 10 tips for reducing the risk of getting cystitis.  
   
 For
  more information visit www.effercitrate.co.uk  E | 
