Understanding bladder infections

Did you know that almost 20% - 50% of all women get at least one bladder infection some time in their lives? And surprisingly, this problem is more partial to women than to men.

How Does It Happen

So what is bladder infection? Simply put, bladder infection is an inflammation of the bladder and is also well-known as cystitis. Bladder infection is also referred to as Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), as it affects the urinary passage.

Though doctors can’t say for certain why women fall victim to bladder infections than men, they tend to believe it is because of the shorter length of the urethra, which is a tube that carries the urine out of the bladder. Since this passageway if rather short, only about an inch and a half long, the bacteria find it rather easy to make the short journey up and into the bladder. Added to that the fact that urethra opening is close to both the vagina and the anus and hence the easiest way for the bacteria to enter the female urinary tract.

Causes of Bladder Infection

The main culprit for causing a bladder infection is bacterial E.coli To be more specific, various strains of E.coli bacteria cause infection as they live and breed in the intestines and the bowl. But how does the bacteria enter the body and what are the various ways that induce a bladder infection – let’s know more about the causes.

Sex—It is known that women get bladder infection after sex. Bacteria can enter the bladder through the urethra during vaginal intercourse. Moreover, some women are also known to become infected with what is dubbed “honeymoon cystitis” pretty much every time they are involved in sexual intercourse.

Diaphragm—Those women who use diaphragm as the main method of pregnancy control, are particularly vulnerable to bladder infection. Doctors tend to believe this is because the diaphragm presses on the bladder preventing it from being emptied completely. The stagnant urine is a perfect breeding ground for e.coli bacteria that reproduce rapidly.

Pregnancy—Bladder infection is also common with pregnant women as their bladders are squeezed or compressed with the growth of the foetus.

Catheters—Use of catheters (a tube inserted into the bladder), at home and in hospitals to empty the bladder can also lead to infection
In the recent years, doctors have observed that UTI is caused from two sexually transmitted bacteria – chlamydia and mycoplasam.

Treatments of a Bladder Infection

Usually, bladder infections are not serious if treated on time with antibiotics. However, they have a recurring nature and do tend to come back in some people. Recurring bladder infections often lead to kidney infections that are often serious in nature and tend to damage the kidney permanently.

Antibiotic resistant bugs

It is important to treat the main causes of UTI or bladder infection and preventive steps must be taken in order to ensure that it doesn't’t come back. In most cases patients take a course of antibiotics which kills the urine infection and 5 days later everything is back to normal. The problem with antibiotics is they not only kill bad bacteria but also good bacteria. Long term use of antibiotics causes resistant bugs which over time become resistant to the antibiotics and don't die so the urine infection can not be treated and the patient will have to try another antibiotic.

Alternative method with D-mannose for urinary tract health

D-mannose is a natural sugar which is effective against e.coli urine infections. E.coli is the cause of 90% of uti's. This is how d-mannose helps urine infection against ecoli bugs.

D mannose is taken and goes straight to your bladder sticking to the bladder wall stopping the ecoli sticking to your bladder. Here is the funny part! E.coli is attracted to the d mannose and sticks to it like glue, so when your next urination takes place the d mannose with the ecoli bug is evacuated leaving your bladder clear. D-mannose does not harm any bacteria good or bad just disburses the bugs out of the bladder!