Please note: This information was current at the time of publication but now may be out of date. This handout provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. 

brand logo

Am Fam Physician. 2011;84(7):778

See related article on acute uncomplicated cystitis.

What is cystitis?

Cystitis (sis-TIE-tis) is an infection in your bladder that is caused by bacteria. If you have a bladder infection, you may feel pain when you urinate or have an unusually strong need to urinate. You may also urinate more often and have pain in your lower stomach.

What causes the infection?

Bladder infection usually happens in healthy women of reproductive age. It is normal to have bacteria that live around your urethra (yoo-REE-thruh), which is where urine comes out. These bacteria usually are not harmful. However, sometimes they can get into your bladder. You may be more likely to get a bladder infection if you hold your urine for a long time, if you have sex often, or if you are pregnant.

What should I do if I think I have an infection?

See your doctor as soon as possible. You will need to give a urine sample. Most doctors will be able to tell you right away if you have an infection. Sometimes a urine culture is needed, which means your urine sample will be sent to a laboratory. It takes about three to five days to get the results.

How is it treated?

Your doctor will usually prescribe three to five days of antibiotics. Many women begin feeling better within 36 hours of starting an antibiotic. It may be helpful to drink more water. You can also take over-the-counter pain medicine. Drinking cranberry juice and taking cranberry tablets have not been shown to help.

See your doctor if your symptoms get worse, or if you have nausea, vomiting, or a fever higher than 100.1° F. Rarely, some people will need to go to the hospital because of complications from a bladder infection.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor

AAFP's Patient Education Resource

Continue Reading


More in AFP

More in PubMed

Copyright © 2011 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP.  See permissions for copyright questions and/or permission requests.