Honeymoon cystitis
Despite steps to maintain sexual health, many of us still find ourselves getting various STIs. While there are several of these that are quite common, perhaps the most noteworthy is honeymoon cystitis. Though this affects countless women at some point in their lives, many often don’t know what it is.
As we get older, there are a variety of things that we take better care of. Our sexual health is one of these, with safe sex becoming important quite early on in our lives. While we typically start with condoms, many of us continue to take other measures to prevent unwanted pregnancy, as well as STIs.
Despite these steps, many of us still find ourselves getting various STIs. While there are several of these that are quite common, perhaps the most noteworthy is honeymoon cystitis. Though this affects countless women at some point in their lives, many often don’t know what it is.
While the implications that it can have, it can be vital that every woman knows what honeymoon cystitis is and how they can prevent it.
What Is Honeymoon Cystitis?
Also known as the ‘honeymoon disease,’ this is cystitis that’s been caused by sexual activity. Typically, this can result in symptoms similar to cystitis caused by any other circumstances. These usually include burning when peeing and the frequent need to urinate.
Naturally, the majority of women will want to know what causes honeymoon cystitis and how they can prevent it. The disease predominantly affects women who have just had sex for the first time, or for the first time in a while.
As a result, honeymoon cystitis typically affects women in their early 20s and early 50s. According to studies, the cystitis is caused by E-coli bacteria – which usually live on the skin of the anus – are transferred inside the urethra.
This can be done either with a finger or a penis. Because of this, condoms don’t offer any protection against the condition. The ailment affects approximately half of women during their lifetime at some point, with 4 percent reportedly getting bladder infections as a result.
Many people may be wondering why men don’t suffer from honeymoon cystitis. While some people believe that they don’t, this isn’t the case; instead, they suffer from it in much smaller numbers. There are a few reasons for this.
Perhaps the most significant of these is that a woman’s urethra is much shorter than a man’s, making it easier for E-coli bacteria to travel. As such, the majority of men wouldn’t suffer from the ailment unless it’s associated with an underlying medical condition.
How To Treat A Honeymoon Disease & A Bladder Infection
You may be wondering how to treat a bladder infection, should you be diagnosed with Honeymoon Cystitis. Perhaps the most common, and obvious, is to use antibiotics. This is because they can be quite effective at treating cystitis. As such, a short round of antibiotics should do the trick.
Usually, a Honeymoon Cystitis should be cleared up within three days of when you start taking medication. However, this can vary slightly, depending on your specific case. As such, you should consult a medical professional if you have the disease.
If you start suffering from frequent bladder infections, then you may need to be placed on medication long-term. This will typically be a low dose of daily antibiotics, which will then be taken over several months and which should prevent future infections. Should this not treat the issue, then it could be a sign of an underlying condition.
How To Prevent Honeymoon Cystitis
It’s not surprising that the majority of people will want to prevent Honeymoon Cystitis and other STIs. Since condoms wouldn’t help against the condition, however, you might be wondering what can help. Luckily, there are a few simple and easy ways to do so.
Some of the more notable of these are:
- Urinate directly before and after sex;
- Make sure that your vaginal and anal areas are clean;
- Stay hydrated before and during sex;
- If necessary, use a vaginal lubricant, and;
- Consider a different type of birth control, as diaphragms and spermicide can both introduce bacteria, which may then result in an infection.
All of the above are relatively easy to do and shouldn’t take much effort, either before or after sex. However, they can help maximize your chances of preventing honeymoon cystitis. Alongside this, there are several ways unrelated to sex that you could make sure that you don’t develop the condition. These are:
- Not using sprays or douches near the genital area;
- Making sure that your anus is well cleaned, and;
- Considering some drugstore supplements that may help prevent STIs.
Though honeymoon cystitis can cause quite a significant amount of discomfort, it’s much easier to treat than you may imagine. However, keeping all of the above in mind should prevent the honeymoon disease from developing.
Like many other things, good hygiene can be vital, which is why it always comes well-recommended when looking after your sexual health.