It's not always possible to prevent cystitis, but you can take some steps to help avoid the condition:
- don't use perfumed bubble bath, soap, or talcum powder around your genitals - use plain, unperfumed varieties
- have a shower, rather than a bath, to avoid exposing your genitals to the chemicals in your cleaning products for too long
- always empty your bladder fully when you go to the toilet
- don't wait to go if you need to urinate: delaying it can place extra stress on your bladder and could make it more vulnerable to infection
- wear underwear made from cotton rather than synthetic material such as nylon
- avoid wearing tight jeans and trousers
- always wipe from the front of your genital area to the back, not back to front, when you go to the toilet
- some people find certain types of food and drink make their cystitis worse: for example, coffee, fruit juice or spicy foods. If there is anything that triggers your cystitis, you may wish to avoid it
Cranberry products
Although cranberry products are not effective at treating cystitis, they may help to prevent recurrent attacks. High-strength capsules, which contain 200mg of cranberry extract, are available in shops (but not on the NHS).
Cranberry capsules may be a more effective treatment than drinking cranberry juice, as you need to drink a lot of juice for it to benefit you, and not everyone likes the taste. Cranberry capsules are not recommended if you are taking warfarin (blood-thinning medication).
Cystitis and sex
Try these tips if your cystitis is triggered by having sex:
- wash your genital area and your hands before and after sex
- use a lubricant during sex to avoid damaging your genital area through friction (use a water-based lubricant if you're using latex condoms, as oil-based lubricant can make latex condoms less effective)
- if you're a woman and you use a diaphragm for contraception, you may wish to change to another method of contraception
- after having sex, empty your bladder as soon as possible to get rid of unwanted bacteria
There is currently no evidence that oestrogen products, used to treat women after the menopause, can prevent cystitis.
People who have catheters need special advice about how to change them without damaging the area. Ask the healthcare professional who is treating you to show you how to do this.
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