CystitisI'm experiencing a stinging and burning sensation when I pass urine and have been feeling a little unwell for the last few days. As I my GP is a man I don't really want to go to him about it. What could it be?
First of all lets get the lecture out of the way. Your doctor is there to help you look after your health. All doctors, whether male or female, are trained to diagnose and treat a wide variety of conditions, even ones that are a little embarrassing.
Chances are he has seen most things and won't be put off by problems south of the navel.
But if you are not comfortable discussing this topic perhaps you could see a female doctor in the practice or if one is not available consider transferring to one in another surgery.
However, as I have said,I'm sure your doctor would be very understanding and won't find your problem a bit embarrassing.
Thanks for the pep talk, but you haven't said what the problem might be.
Well it could be cystitis. This is an inflammation of the bladder that many women suffer from at some stage in their lives.
It is almost always caused by bacteria travelling upwards along the urethra - the short tube that extends from the bladder to the outside.
Bacteria which are present around the anus make their way to the urethra causing inflammation. It is a very irritating and uncomfortable but is not usually serious. However, if left untreated the infection can spread up to the kidneys causing further problems.
Can I do to get rid of it?
Some simple measures would be to drink lots of fluids including cranberry juice and ensure that you empty your bladder completely every time you go to the bathroom; gently wipe from the front to the back to ensure that bacteria do not spread from the back passage and use over the counter analgesia to help with pain.
Wear cotton underwear and avoid tight jeans or vaginal deodorants. But as you've had this for more than 24 hours you need to see your doctor for treatment.
So my advice is; grit you teeth and make an appointment.
What does the treatment of cystitis involve?
You will be asked for a mid-stream urine (MSU) sample which will be tested at the surgery and checked for various indicators to confirm a diagnosis of cystitis. Your doctor will then prescribe a course of antibiotics.
If the infection does not clear then a urine sample will be sent for microscopic examination. Identifying the bug and which antibiotics it is resistant to will lead to the prescription of an alternative antibiotic.