Cystitis during pregnancy - how to treat it

Cystitis in women during pregnancy develops due to hormonal imbalance, enlargement of the uterus and its pressure on the bladder, which impairs blood supply to the pelvic organs. The disease also develops due to severe suppression of the immune system, which contributes to a high susceptibility to various infections.

Cystitis cannot be ignored, but pregnancy requires serious treatment. Only a doctor will be able to determine what medications can be prescribed - in some cases, antibacterial treatment is used, in others, symptomatic therapy.

It is very important to consult a specialist at the first suspicion of cystitis during pregnancy, because the disease is diagnosed in 50% of pregnant women and threatens not only the health of the expectant mother, but also the health of the fetus.

Symptoms of cystitis during pregnancy

The disease is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms that cannot be ignored:

basal body temperature rises;
pain appears in the lower abdomen;
candidiasis develops;
the urge to urinate is very frequent, and the process itself is painful, with a burning sensation;
the urine is cloudy and has a strong odor, mucus is periodically released;
the presence of blood and pus in urine;
urinary incontinence.

If the infection spreads to the kidneys, the symptoms become more pronounced: the body temperature rises higher, the pain becomes more intense and becomes permanent, nausea, vomiting and indigestion appear.

Similar symptoms of cystitis and pregnancy

Bladder inflammation is caused by an infection or cold. Often, a disease such as cystitis can manifest itself against the background of diseases that affect not only the kidneys and bladder, but also the genitals, for example, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the vagina or uterus. Women often confuse the sign of pregnancy and the symptoms of cystitis due to the similarity of the signs of both phenomena.

Painful sensations

With the development of a disease of the genitourinary system such as cystitis, a woman feels a pain in the abdomen - this is the main sign of damage. The pain increases with urination. Sometimes it doesn't go away for a long time. During pregnancy, painful sensations occur in the groin or back when the fertilized egg is detached from the walls of the uterus. This sign allows you to distinguish between illness and pregnancy.

Increased urination

The frequency of urination increases, but at the same time a minimal amount of fluid is released from the urethra. This is the first sign of inflammation. Frequent urination during pregnancy develops due to an increase in blood supply to the genital organs.

Bloody issues

During illness, an admixture appears in the urine, sometimes with blood. The urine becomes cloudy and dark. After emptying, the patient does not feel relief; on the contrary, the feeling of a full bladder remains. Often, bleeding due to inflammation of the bladder is confused with discharge from menstruation (menstruation), but special attention should be paid to this sign. During pregnancy, spotting is a sign of implantation of the fertilized egg, during which the lining of the uterus becomes deformed and disintegrates. Nearby capillaries may burst, causing a surge and release of blood that is released along with urine.

Temperature

Simultaneously with these signs, there may be an increase in temperature, which due to the inflammatory process can exceed 37°C. Then the patient does not hold urine, since this occurs only in the acute form of the disease. If the disease becomes chronic, then all the symptoms are smoothed out, but remain. During pregnancy, the temperature never exceeds the above value, unless the woman has other diseases associated with inflammation.

Cystitis during early pregnancy

Using a general urine test, cystitis can be diagnosed as early as the first week of pregnancy. Cystitis in the first weeks of pregnancy is common - sometimes the expectant mother finds out about her situation precisely when she consults a doctor about the occurrence of cystitis. The main cause of the disease is the suppression of the body's immune defense, which is typical for expectant mothers.

It is very important to detect cystitis in a timely manner during early pregnancy and prescribe the correct treatment, because the condition of the mother and the health of the fetus in the womb depend on it.

Treatment of cystitis in early pregnancy should be carried out strictly under the supervision of a doctor, who is especially careful in deciding what medications can be prescribed, since many can have a negative effect on the health of the fetus and the expectant mother. If the disease is not cured, there is a risk of having a premature baby or a fetus with low body weight.

Treatment during pregnancy

This disease cannot be ignored, as it provokes the appearance of pyelonephritis and threatens the unborn child. Self-treatment will not help, so medications must be prescribed by a doctor. Pregnant women with cystitis are prescribed the drug Monural, and if the situation is severe, the doctor may prescribe Amoxiclav or Canephron. Treatment is carried out in a hospital. The patient is prescribed a diet. She should not eat spicy, fried or salty foods or drink alcohol. During treatment, a woman should not be overcooled and should not empty her bladder in a timely manner.

How to treat cystitis during pregnancy

When treating cystitis during pregnancy, it must be taken into account that during the formation and development of the embryo, the placenta becomes sensitive to any microorganisms. Taking most medications is strictly prohibited, and “traditional” methods can be just as harmful. Self-medication is strictly prohibited, and your doctor will advise you correctly and safely on how to treat cystitis during pregnancy.

If, after taking the tests, concerns about the development of cystitis are confirmed, the pregnant girl needs to:

Understand that you cannot self-medicate and do not take any medications without a doctor’s prescription.
Maintain bed rest. It will be much easier for the body to fight pathogenic microflora if it is provided with proper rest.
You need to drink plenty of fluids. It helps flush out toxins and pathogenic bacteria from the bladder. Not only water, but also tea can be taken as a drink. It will be especially useful to drink lingonberry and cranberry juices.
You need to exclude foods that irritate the bladder from your diet - fried, salty, smoked, spicy foods. Porridge made from whole grains, vegetables and fruits will be useful.
Reduce the amount of protein consumed (lactic acid products, fish, meat), foods high in starch, carbonated drinks and sweets.
Absolutely eliminate the consumption of alcoholic beverages, coffee and strong tea.
Strictly follow your doctor's instructions regarding therapy.

To cure a disease, it is first important to eliminate its cause - pathogenic microorganisms. There are not many medications for cystitis approved for use during pregnancy. Antibacterial drugs are used to kill bacteria. A culture is carried out to test for sensitivity to the antibiotic, and if the sensitivity of the expectant mother is high, the drug is prescribed for use.

The main drugs prescribed by doctors in the first trimester are antibiotics from the penicillin group (for example, Amoxiclav). Medicines containing fosfomycin as the active ingredient are also used. In the second trimester of pregnancy, nitrofurans and cephalosporins are allowed for use. The doctor determines the dosage and course of treatment individually, depending on the balance of risk and benefit for the mother and fetus.

In addition to antibacterial agents and synthetic drugs, plant-based drugs are widely used, for example, Canephron N. This is a combined drug with diuretic and antiseptic properties. Also relieves inflammation and spasm. It enhances the effect of antibiotics, which makes the treatment of cystitis more effective.

Treatment is also possible using bladder instillation. The essence of this procedure is that antibacterial drugs are injected directly into the bladder using a catheter. This procedure should be performed only in a hospital setting and under the supervision of a doctor.

Herbal medicine can be a useful addition to primary therapy. To treat cystitis, medicinal herbal mixtures are used, which include bearberry, St. John's wort, chamomile and rose hips. They have antibacterial properties, and rose hips contain ascorbic acid, which strengthens the immune system.

If cystitis occurs, thermal procedures are strictly contraindicated for pregnant women, as they can cause miscarriage. If there is blood in the urine, you should not take warm baths - internal bleeding may occur.

Is it possible to get pregnant or plan a child with cystitis or thrush?

If the inflammatory process has not spread from the bladder to the uterus or ovaries, then, in principle, conception is possible.

In this case, the egg matures and leaves the follicle in a timely manner and can be fertilized without problems.

However, doctors have an extremely negative attitude towards pregnancy if there is an inflammatory process in the woman’s body, especially in the organ located next to the uterus. The disease must first be cured.

Both forms of cystitis, if the inflammation has not spread to the uterus, do not interfere with conception, and therefore it is necessary to protect themselves. Pregnancy until the inflammation is eliminated is highly undesirable due to risks to the fetus.

With prolonged absence of treatment, if inflammation spreads to the reproductive system, there is a danger of adhesions in the fallopian tubes, which leads to infertility. In such a situation, the egg after ovulation loses the opportunity to penetrate the uterus, and pregnancy does not occur. In this case, it is not always possible to restore reproductive function.

Possibility of pregnancy with cystitis and thrush

Not often, but a combination of cystitis and thrush is possible. This condition is also an obstacle to planned conception. Because of thrush, the vaginal microflora is disrupted, and sperm cannot fully penetrate the uterus. However, some of them sometimes still reach the egg, and fertilization cannot be completely ruled out.

Doctors strongly recommend treatment before conception. Only when a woman is completely healthy is the likelihood of pathologies in the fetus reduced to a minimum.

The danger of cystitis during pregnancy

During pregnancy, cystitis poses a serious danger. If the disease appears after conception, urgent treatment is necessary. When a woman develops acute cystitis in the first 2 months, the question of terminating the pregnancy may even be raised.

The main danger of the inflammatory process near the uterus during pregnancy is that it causes the following complications:

miscarriage;
premature birth;
disorders in fetal development that lead to physical deformities and mental retardation;
sepsis in the mother or child immediately after birth.

The risk of complications from cystitis during pregnancy is extremely high, which is why doctors do not recommend conception until complete recovery.

Planning pregnancy and cystitis

When bladder inflammation occurs, you should not plan to conceive. You must first undergo a course of treatment and eliminate the problem. Antibiotics are usually used for therapy. They negatively affect the reproductive system and can harm the embryo. Because of this, after completing the course of therapy, you should not attempt to conceive earlier than 90 days later.

You should consult your doctor about when it is best to get pregnant after finishing treatment.

What to do to prevent cystitis from appearing again?

To prevent the development of complications and avoid relapses of the disease, it is necessary to adhere to preventive actions:

be careful when choosing underwear (it should be made from natural materials);
exclude the possibility of hypothermia, dress according to the season;
adhere to a proper diet (exclude alcohol, coffee, “irritating” foods);
perform light exercise;
observe the rules of hygiene;
visit the toilet frequently (pathogenic microorganisms are washed out with urine).

Diagnosis and appropriate therapy must be carried out by a qualified specialist to prevent harm to the mother and her child.

Attention!

This article is posted for informational purposes only and under no circumstances constitutes scientific material or medical advice and should not serve as a substitute for an in-person consultation with a professional physician.
For diagnostics, diagnosis and treatment, contact qualified doctors! Number of reads: 4879 Date of publication: 10/09/2017
Urologists - search service and appointment with urologists in Moscow

Is it possible to get pregnant with cystitis and what is the effect of cystitis on conception?

The question of whether it is possible to get pregnant with cystitis interests patients with both acute and chronic forms of bladder disease. A urologist will help establish the cause-and-effect relationship of inflammation of the urinary tract.

If at the time of the disease the woman was already pregnant, the assistance of a gynecologist will be required. Only in severe cases of bladder inflammation is it recommended to terminate the pregnancy. But such a decision requires diagnostic confirmation of the presence of serious developmental anomalies in the fetus.

Pregnancy during cystitis - what are the chances?

Inflammation of the bladder affects the functional ability of the ovaries only in half of the cases. Therefore, the menstrual cycle remains unchanged: ovulation occurs, which means that the possibility of reproductive ability is preserved.

If the inflammatory process from the bladder has spread to the organs of the reproductive system - in particular, the ovaries, the cycle is disrupted. This indicates a complete absence of ovulation, which predisposes to infertility.

In general, the likelihood of becoming pregnant during cystitis is high, especially if the disease has become chronic and has periods of remission.

Bladder inflammation and infertility

The presence of cystitis reduces the likelihood of fertilization for several reasons:

Obstruction of the fallopian tubes . The fallopian tubes are important structures in the female reproductive system. Violation of their anatomical usefulness contributes to the development of infertility. A chronic inflammatory process (in this case, cystitis) promotes the production of sticky secretion. It seals the lumen of the fallopian tubes, reducing the chances of fertilization. The patency of these channels is determined during an ultrasound of the pelvic organs. The referral is issued by a gynecologist.
Presence of a sexually transmitted disease . Chlamydia, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea - all these infections are sexually transmitted. They are associated with the development of cystitis, since they are characterized by the production of pathological secretion. Subsequently, it enters the bladder and causes inflammation. In 50% of cases, the patient’s attention is drawn to the presence of problems with urination, but not a genital infection. Infertility often develops against the background of sexually transmitted diseases. The reason is that mucous and purulent secretion glues the genital canals together and prevents the movement of the fertilized egg to the uterus. Therefore, with chronic cystitis, patients are referred for laboratory tests to exclude sexually transmitted infections.
Long-term inflammation of the uterus (endometritis) and appendages . Against this background, the menstrual cycle is disrupted and the likelihood of conception decreases. The ovaries do not produce female sex hormones in the required quantities, which also affects the patient’s well-being.

Against the background of psycho-emotional instability, cystitis, and as a result, infertility, rarely occurs. The psychogenic etiological factor is the most difficult to identify, but if the patient is planning a pregnancy, she will need to see a psychologist.

Why is it not recommended to become pregnant during treatment for cystitis?

Inflammation of the bladder requires the use of antibacterial agents - uroseptics and antibiotics. Without using them, it is impossible to get rid of the infectious process for a long time - it will regularly worsen. Recurrence of attacks is preceded by getting wet feet and a short stay in a draft.

The pharmaceutical capabilities of drugs contradict the possibility of full development of the fetus. They have an intense embryotoxic effect. This means that under the influence of medications, the fertilized egg is rejected or dies.

In the 2nd trimester, antimicrobial substances lead to malformations of the child. What are the most common consequences for the fetus?

“cleft palate”, “cleft lip”;
partial formation of the skull bones;
polydactyly (polydactyly);
pathologies of the structure of the spinal cord;
violation of the anatomy of the heart.

A potential outcome of taking antibacterial drugs during treatment for bladder inflammation is a disruption of the intestinal microflora. Its normalization also involves taking antifungal agents, which are harmful to the child.

If cystitis that occurs in a pregnant woman is not treated, infection of the amniotic fluid and fetal hypoxia (lack of oxygen) will occur.

One of the reasons why it is recommended to plan a pregnancy is the importance of preliminary examination. A complete diagnosis allows you to identify inflammatory and infectious processes and eliminate them in a timely manner. And only after making sure that there are no diseases, you can plan a pregnancy.

How to avoid cystitis when planning pregnancy

It is enough to avoid hypothermia, take care of personal hygiene, and avoid drinking alcohol and caffeine (they irritate the walls of the bladder). Before and after sexual intercourse, you need to take a shower - this will avoid infection of the urogenital tract due to bacteria.

Pathogenic microorganisms may be present on the genitals of both partners. The listed measures help minimize the risk of developing cystitis during the preparation for pregnancy.

How to avoid cystitis while pregnant

During pregnancy, you can avoid the development of inflammation if you follow the following recommendations:

Maintain intimate hygiene . During pregnancy, vaginal secretion increases. If you do not eliminate it in a timely manner, you can provoke inflammation of the bladder.
Refuse to visit public toilets , temporarily limit yourself from trips to the sea or going to the pool.
Don't hold back the urge for too long . The enlarging uterus puts pressure on the bladder, causing increased urination. By holding back the urge, a woman provokes stretching and irritation of the organ, which increases the likelihood of inflammation. Especially considering the fact that intravesical stagnation of urine causes infection.
Avoid any type of hypothermia . Dress according to weather conditions and avoid getting wet in the rain.
Refuse intimacy without contraceptives . Sexual activity is strictly contraindicated in the 1st trimester of pregnancy. In the second, there are no special restrictions, but you need to use condoms to prevent the introduction of bacteria from your partner’s penis.

To prevent cystitis during pregnancy, it is not recommended to consume coffee, citrus fruits, excessive amounts of pickles, sour fruits and vegetables.

To minimize the risk of inflammation, it is important to have bowel movements in a timely manner. Constipation (inability to defecate for more than 3 days) contributes to compression of the bladder and the development of intoxication due to stagnation of feces.

Laboratory testing of blood, urine, and ultrasound of the bladder can establish or exclude the presence of cystitis during pregnancy. The same set of diagnostic procedures should be completed at the stage of maternity planning. It is preferable to supplement the examination of the bladder with an ultrasound of the kidneys.