Mr Zaki Almallah, Consultant Urologist from the Birmingham and Solihull Bladder Clinic was invited to speak on Spanish Radio station “Talk Europe” about how cystitis affects men as well as women, as recently outlined in a recent Daily Mail article which he featured.
Mr Almallah spoke about how cystitis is commonly associated as a condition mainly affecting women due to anatomical differences between the sexes. This is because in women the urethra is shorter therefore is more susceptible to bacteria from the bowel.
Mr Almallah explained that “cystitis” is the general term for “bacterial cystitis” which in both men and women causes similar symptoms of a burning sensation, and the need to urinate very frequently- about every 5- 10 minutes. The bacteria usually comes from the bowel, therefore people who have problems with their bowel (including constipation), tend to be susceptible to developing cystitis as bacteria can seep into the bladder causing infection.
The interviewer asked Mr Almallah if certain people tend to be more at risk of developing cystitis than others. Mr Almallah detailed how some families can be more susceptible to it than others, and how in women cystitis can be related to the menstrual cycle, contraceptive pill and sexual intercourse- hence the old-fashioned term “honeymoon cystitis”. It can also affect women later in life around the menopause with hormonal changes lowering levels of oestrogen in the body.
Mr Almallah went on to explain how in their lifetime between 50% – 70% of women will become affected by cystitis, with on average between one or two episodes every ten years. Should someone be developing cystitis once every six months or more frequently, then they should seek medical help.
Mr Almallah was asked if there is anything that people can do to lower their risk of developing the condition? He replied by advising a good fluid intake, regular emptying of the bladder , preventing constipation and good personal hygiene can reduce the likelihood of becoming affected by the condition, which normally in a usually healthy bladder can last between 24 – 48 hours without the need for antibiotics, however some over the counter remedies can help.
As the risk of developing cystitis is lower for men than women due to anatomical differences, when men do develop the condition it should be investigated as it can indicate an underlying medical condition connected to the prostate. Mr Almallah therefore urged men suffering with cystitis symptoms to promptly seek the advice of a healthcare professional.
To listen to the radio interview please click here: