In addition to this pain, you are likely to have symptoms such as needing to pass urine more frequently and/or pain on passing urine. You may also find that you are not able to hold on to urine for as long as you used to. Such symptoms will have lasted for more than six weeks and not have been found to be due to another cause such as infection. Pumpkin seeds- rich in natural antioxidants, minerals and fibre, they support bladder health helping reduce the frequency of bladder emptying.

A medicine called pentosan polysulfate sodium (Elmiron®) may be given. This may help repair the lining of your bladder. Pentosan polysulfate sodium is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as an option for treating bladder pain syndrome in adults with urinary urgency and frequency, and moderate to severe pain, only if: The URALIX trademark was assigned an Application Number # UK00003456607 by the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO). Green tea extract – rich in polyphenols and contains antioxidants, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory substances with clinically proven effect in urinary tract infections. Research published in the British Medical Journal suggests that cranberry juice is not effective at preventing urinary tract infections especially the supermarket brands, which tend to be high in sugar. Another study showed that 80 percent of UTIs in women occurred within 24 hours after sexual intercourse, and that women ‘on top’ was the the position which caused more frequent UTIs.

Can cystitis and thrush be linked?

UTIs are one of the most common bacterial infections globally. While treatment is usually straight forward, left untreated, UTIs can lead to more serious conditions such as kidney infections or sepsis. anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen, indomethacin or aspirin for pain relief ( low-dose aspirin – 75mg a day, is safe to take with ramipril) Honeymoon cystitis, or ‘honeymoonitis’ is a very real medical condition that occurs from an abundance of sex that can lead to UTIs caused by an infection in any part of the urinary system including the urethra and bladder.

Men don’t escape UTIs either with one in 2000 men developing a urinary tract infection each year, according to the NHS. If there is blood, or if you are pregnant, or you have not had a UTI before, it is important to see a doctor, who may prescribe antibiotics.Any effective remedy for these painful and unpleasant conditions that cuts down on unnecessary antibiotic use, is to be welcomed.” Dr J.D. Spitzer – MB BS FRCGP DCCH DROG General Medical Practitioner & Honorary Lecturer in Primary Care at St. Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary College, University of London.