to ask if you have some secret weapon against cystitis after sex?

[stingyburnyfuck]

i mean this nicely but please please don’t come here just to tell me to wee after sex or drink cranberry juice. We are way past that.

I am absolutely desperate. Feel like I’ve tried EVERYTHING. I’ve posted in the past under another name I think and received some good advice but I’m back again. Is there ANYTHING you do to fight cystitis that I haven’t tried?? Anything? Please!

I have suffered my entire adult life, 25 years since I started having sex, with recurrent cystitis after sex. It starts 3-5 days after the sex and nothing gets rid of it until I take a full course of antibiotics.

I’ve seen specialists and am currently under the care of the private Malone-Lee urology clinic in London. Their treatment is long term antibiotics. I’ve been under them three years and spent an absolute fortune that I cannot sustain. It was life changing to be able to have a normal sex life with DH without being in agony days later. But they recently took me off the ABs to see how it goes - we’ve had sex twice - both times I have got cystitis and ended up on a course of ABs anyway. So I just don’t think it’s the long term solution and I can’t stay on ABs forever, can I?!

I’ve tried:
*Thrush and BV treatment
*One antibiotic every time I have sex (worked 90% of the time but again is that a long term solution?)
*D-mannose and cranberry - do nothing
*Urethral stretch and had camera up there
*Always wash and wee directly before and after sex
*No perfumed products or soap near vulva
*Drink shit load of water daily and limited caffeine
*Probiotics

Dipstick and lab tests nearly always clear (I know theory of these being unreliable) and I’ve had every swab imaginable and they’re always clear too so I don’t think it’s thrush or an infection.

the only thing I haven’t really done is change my diet because it’s only ever sex that triggers it - if I go months without sex I don’t have a twinge, no matter what I eat/drink.

feel fucking miserable and like I either give up sex or suffer forever.

Just to add my 2p worth. I have to be really specific about positions during sex, pretty much just missionary and on my side. No grinding- so no being on top, or pushing against DH in missionary, as that always sets things off for me. Always condoms, always use Multi-Gyn actigel after sex. Doesn't always work, but it helps.

It is absolutely shit, I hate worrying about it all the time.

2 more suggestions. Hiprex 1g twice a day. Mon antibiotic tablets. Sometimes works. Or cystistat installations into the bladder weekly and then tapered off. This latter one is used more for non-sex related cystitis in older people but worth a try.

Antibiotics before and after sex would be my other suggestion. You can do it long term and the overall antibiotic use is much less than long-term low-dose antibiotics so is preferable.

I've had this after sex for years too - the only time I didn't get it was with an ex-boyfriend who was circumcised. Don't suppose you could convince your husband to have the op..?!
There is a lot of evidence to say that this can help.

I’ve tried every solution in this thread. AB use for me then meant thrush! However, have been on HRT for 6 months and 🤞🏻🤞🏻 no cystitis after sex and no preventative AB- don’t know if hormone imbalance is a cause. Hope this long continues.

Come off the pill if you’re on it (or any hormonal contraception).
I suffered for years and had so many referrals. I came off for unrelated reasons, but when mentioned to my gp my problems had cleared up he agreed that the pill often causes problems. No health professional is prepared to tell you though, as using contraception is more important (in their mind) than anything else.

So sorry to hear this OP, you poor thing.
I get it a few times a year and LOADS more in my younger years.

a few things that seem to have helped me, however it seems yours is very severe so I have no idea if any of this will help but I really hope something does. It’s miserable and so incredibly painful.

drinking kefir daily
avoiding certain positions
ensuring I’m turned on before full sex begins
making sex partner wear a condom
washing before and after ( I know
youve said you do this but I echo this )
really really making sure my bladder is empty. I’m an anxious person naturally and it’s crazy how often I realise that I haven’t actually emptied the full bladder. Breathing deeply and getting it absolutely empty has helped me the most

I recently found out I have a tilted uterus which apparently makes cystitis more likely.

hope you find something useful soon ❤

There is a UTI vaccine on offer in some areas. I know that there's a urologist Dr Patrick Campbell instagram.com/dr.patrickcampbell?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= in Belfast who offers it privately. Not on NHS, would have to pay. I'm sure there's bound to be someone closer to you. You could ask your urologist? As far as I know it seems to work well for women with post sex UTI's. My sympathies, it sounds hard xx

The vaccine is called Uromune!

You’re all so lovely to take the time to reply to me!

shoukd have said but I’m on Hiprex four times a day. Isn’t helping with these bouts at all.

those of you on HRT, were your cystitis bouts triggered by sex?

thansk for sharing your experiences and the kind words everyone ❤

@Jagzorx hadnt heard of this at all. Definitely going to do some research!! Thank you

How old are you op?
I've heard topical HRT - the oestrogen you can buy over the counter is good for this.

I’m with you, OP. It’s awful and really has had an impact on my sex life because I also can’t tolerate antibiotics. Not sure how old you are or how helpful this is for you, but have you considered oestrogen cream or pessaries? If the skin there is dry or slightly damaged with friction it can create a sting or increase the likelihood of infection.
It really helped me. My friend inserts an oestrogen pessary straight after sex.

Have you been checked for ureaplasma?

To answer your question- I’m on HRT and cystitis always from sex.
though I have been taking Kefir drink every morning too.

Really interested in this oestrogen stuff… I’m 40. If it was a recent development I’d definitely put it down to vaginal atrophy but I’ve had it since my teens. Will speak to GP about it though. Worth a go??

ureaplasma @CannonCaboodle i haven’t I don’t think - just googled it and says women usually present with discharge rather than urinary issues. Is this not true?

thanks everyone, given me a massive boost hearing your kind words xxxx

Just to add my bit OP and it’s only a very small thing but easy enough to try and dismiss if it does absolutely nothing for you. This advice comes second hand from an urology nurse.

When a bout comes on sit in a warmish bath with nothing in it and drink a couple of litres of water. Pee into the bath and keep drinking. Try and stay in for an hour or so. Don’t have the water too hot. Sounds grim I know but I swear it works for me every time without the need for antibiotics for the last 8 years.

I’m post menopausal and still have a very active sex life.

And thanks for sharing experiences of different sex positions etc. DH circumcised but I’ve had this with every partner and virtually every position under the sun 😞

@SteveHarringtonsHair nothing too grim for me on this subject, will take any and all advice I haven’t tried! Thanks. I have really tried to flush theee infections out but always always end up on ABs

For me it was the lube causing it. I tried many different kinds but I realised it had to be completely sterile - ie unopened each time or I would get cystitis.

I was investigated for interstitial cystitis OP, had my bladder stretched it was ruled out and then put on long term antibiotics. Avoided certain sexual positions with my XH. Peed before and after sex.

Nothing ever stopped it apart from the bath thing.

I had UTIs for years. The main thing that made a difference was giving up alcohol. Sorry, I imagine most people don’t want to hear that. But could be worth trying?

I am 46 and started getting cystitis again recently and after sex. Nurse at surgery has prescribed antibiotics but now says I can try this estrogen? Pessary or gel I think if it keeps coming back as it can be to do with peri menopause. I think she said the skin gets thinner as you age so this can help? Also she mentioned something called replens?

Are you sure you are not allergic to your lube or body wash you are using before sex or something like that?

@Lovetotravel123 fuck!! I mean I would if necessary but again it doesn’t seem triggered by diet at all, only sex. I only have a glass of wine once or twice a week but would so miss it

@SteveHarringtonsHair thats so interesting. Will give it a go!!

@shazshaz interestinf thanks… we don’t use it every time 🧐

@imnotsickbutimnotwell hope it works for you, I will definitely mention it to dr. Definitely not an allergy to a product

I had recurring cystitis for years and it would always lead the full blown thrush and just be completely miserable.

Heres what worked for me:

• shower before and after sex (get partner to shower too before sex and wash his hands)

•no oral sex, and clean sex toys before and after use.

• drink cranberry juice everyday, also cranberry and probiotic supplements, and cranberry tincture added to cereal each morning (I’m talking high doses of the stuff!)

•this is really important, wash your asshole with soap and water after every bowel movement, wiping with tissue or even baby wipes isn’t enough, (I also use an antibacterial soap to do so). So tmi sorry but what I do is wipe with tissue paper as normal, then I use some antibacterial soap on my hand and massage it all over my butthole, (just don’t get any near your vulva) then wet some baby wipes and wipe your butt with a front to back motion until all the soap is gone and then dry. Sounds OTT but this is a game changer, most UTIs are caused by bacteria from your butt, during sex this bacteria is transferred upward toward the urethra.

Doing all of these things at the same time has honesty changed my life. Good luck OP