1. Feel the Burn--Again
You recognize the symptoms easily--a nearly constant need to urinate and the pain and burning that occurs when you do empty your bladder. You may notice that your urine is dark, foul-smelling or even bloody. All of these symptoms will be familiar to you, because you'll have experienced them within the past six months, or perhaps three or more times in the past year. It may not be much comfort to you in your current distress, but at least you can know that you're not alone. Half of all women experience cystitis at least once in their lives, but many women experience it again and again.
2. Identify Possible Triggers
Try to think back on your previous infection (or infections) to see what, if any, conditions were present at the onset that are also present this time around. Was your cystitis triggered by sexual intercourse? Did it occur before or during your menstrual period? Did you make any dietary changes just before the cystitis first occurred, or recurred? Have you been using any type of chemical products in your genital region, such as scented douches, lubricants or contraceptive foams or jellies? Make note of any similarities, other than symptoms, that have occurred with each of your infections. This information might help your doctor pinpoint the cause of your condition and come up with an appropriate plan to treat or manage it.
3. Get Tested by Your Doctor
If your cystitis is extremely uncomfortable and does not respond to home remedies such as drinking cranberry juice or taking over-the-counter medications, you should make an appointment to see your physician right away. She may order a urinalysis or urine culture to show the type of bacteria responsible for your infection and use this information to prescribe the antibiotics that will best treat your condition. If your cystitis persists after antibiotic treatment, she may also order an ultrasound or CT scan to determine whether any anatomical abnormalities may be causing your infections. In some cases, you will need to undergo blood testing in order to check your kidney functions.
