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Cystitis
in men
Cystitis means inflammation of the bladder, usually caused
by an infection. It may not cause any symptoms at all, or
it may cause pain or burning when you pass urine.
- In young men, true cystitis is uncommon. It may mean
that the urinary system has some abnormality that is allowing
germs (bacteria) to take hold. The abnormality could be
a pocket-shaped pouch sticking out from the wall of the
bladder, or a stone in the bladder.
- Young men sometimes think they have cystitis if urinating
is painful, but the cause is more likely to be inflammation
of the urethra (the tube that runs from the bladder, along
the penis to the pee hole). Inflammation of the urethra
is called urethritis. It is often caused by a sexually
transmitted infection such as chlamydia.
- Older men (in their 50s and older) are more likely to
get cystitis than younger men. This is because the prostate
gland often starts to enlarge in middle age. An enlarged
prostate stops the bladder emptying efficiently, and bacteria
can breed in the stagnant urine in the bladder.
What you can do
- If you have pain passing urine, the
best plan is to go
to a genitourinary medicine clinic, because they
can do all the necessary tests very easily.They will
check for sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia
and gonorrhoea that can inflame the urethra, and will
give you the correct treatment. They will also do a
urine test to see if you do have true cystitis (bladder
infection). Alternatively, you could see your own doctor.
- If you do have a urine infection, you
will need more investigations to look for abnormalities
of your urinary system. Your doctor will arrange
an X-ray and an ultrasound test, or an IVU (intravenous
urogram).
- Useful
contacts
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