1. Treat Symptoms Promptly
One good thing about recurrent cystitis is that you can recognize the symptoms as soon as they happen, and you'll already know the appropriate course of treatment. As soon as you feel the pain and burning sensation when you urinate, you can start to drink plenty of water to wash the infection away. You can also treat the pain as necessary with over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen, naproxen and the bladder-specific AZO Standard or Uristat. If your doctor has prescribed prophylactic antibiotics to be taken as needed you can take one right away, as the sooner you treat the problem, the sooner it goes away and the less severe it becomes.
2. Practice Bladder-Safe Sex
If sexual intercourse seems to trigger your bouts of recurring cystitis, you will need to take certain precautions every time. For starters, discontinue the use of any contraceptive foams or jellies, as these can be bladder irritants. Condoms are a far less irritating (and more effective) form of birth control. Diaphragms can also trigger bladder infections, so if you use one, you may wish to check with your obstetrician and gynecologist about other methods of long-term birth control that may be less problematic. Empty your bladder as soon as possible after intercourse, as your urine will help to wash away any harmful bacteria that may have been introduced. If you do have a prescription for antibiotics, take a pill within two hours after having sex.
3. A Cranberry a Day
Studies have shown that women who drink cranberry juice on a daily basis suffer from fewer bouts of cystitis than women who don't drink it do. If you are prone to recurring cystitis, you may wish to try the cranberry cure. However, you should look for unsweetened cranberry juice, not cranberry cocktail, as you want the highest possible dose of pure cranberry. If you do not care for the taste, you can also purchase cranberry extract in capsule form. Be careful with taking cranberry extract if you are on any other type of medication, however, and check with your doctor to be sure there are no harmful interactions. The blood-thinning drug warfarin is known to be particularly unsafe if taken in conjunction with cranberry capsules or even cranberry juice.
