
Cystitis videos
Peer reviewed by Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGPAuthored by Victoria RawOriginally published 26 Jun 2025
Meets Patient’s editorial guidelines
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Our cystitis video hub covers everything from what cystitis is and its common causes to effective treatments and prevention tips. If you’re dealing with the discomfort of cystitis or want to understand how to prevent it, our expert-led videos are here to help.
Overview
Cystitis is a common urinary tract infection (UTI) that causes inflammation of the bladder. It’s more common in women and, whilst it’s usually not serious, it can be really uncomfortable
Causes
Cystitis is usually caused by bacteria getting into the urethra and travelling up into the bladder, where they trigger inflammation. This can happen after sex, if you don’t empty your bladder fully, or even just from things like wiping from back to front.
Symptoms
Cystitis can leave you feeling like you need to pee all the time, often with a burning sensation, and your urine might look cloudy or smell different.
Treatment and Prevention
Cystitis often clears up with a short course of antibiotics. You can help prevent cystitis by drinking plenty of water, wiping front to back, peeing after sex, and wearing breathable cotton underwear.
How do you avoid cystitis?
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About the authorView full bio

Victoria Raw
Feature Writer
BA (Hons), English Literature
Victoria is a content writer at Patient, with special interests spanning mental wellbeing, societal trends and the impact of technology on our health.
About the reviewerView full bio

Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGP
General Practitioner, Medical Author
MBBS, MRCGP, MRCP (Paediatrics), DCH
Dr Colin Tidy is an NHS Doctor, based in Oxfordshire.
Article history
The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.
Article also available in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Hindi, Hebrew, Arabic, and Swedish.
Next review due: 26 Jun 2028
26 Jun 2025 | Originally published
Authored by:
Victoria RawPeer reviewed by
Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGP
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