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.

Sorry if this is too intrusive, but do you get UTI if you masterbate/use a toy?

Basically my thought being, is it the physical insertion and movement that is causing it? Or is it potentially the man?

Simply, if a toy causes same problems then it's likely a 'you' issue, if it doesn't then it could be down to the human element.

@Passthecheeseboard we had a little hose/showerhead thing added to the side of the loo at my partner's insistence for this reason. Took a while to get used to, but actually wouldn't be without it now.

This is a really good idea, maybe I should get one of these

D-mannose.

2 tsps of coriander seeds swallowed down with a pint of water.

I know, I know. I’m usually the first to call herbal remedies a bunch of bullshit, but MIL told me this one and it’s actually worked on the occasions I’ve had uti’s/cystitis for the last few years! Before that I used to have to have antibiotics regularly and ended up with a kidney infection twice (ouch!).

So sorry you are experiencing this OP and for such a long period of time 😞 I’ve suffered with UTIs since my teens, but you’ve pretty much tried everything that I would have suggested.
I did have an ultrasound though which showed that I don’t empty my bladder fully and they suspected this was the cause (although mine aren’t always due to sex). How’s your pelvic floor? Could this be connected somehow? 🤔

with the alcohol, I used to drink vodka and cranberry to try and reduce the chances of getting one through dehydration! 😉

The only thing that worked for me was not receiving oral sex. It gives me the heebie jeebies anyway so it can fuck right off. Never had cystitis since and I wondered why the urologist never suggested it.

I found that 1 antibiotic after sex wasn't always enough so I'd take a second one 12 hours later which helped.
I'm using ovestin which is helping (I'm early 50's).

Always wash after using the loo - we have bidet sprays on our loos
I have rescue antibiotics in the house so I can start taking them as soon as something flares.

No advice but I can sympathise. I no longer have sex, drink alcohol, swim, ride bikes, have baths, wear jeans or tights....all because of fucking cystitis. It has and continues to affect my life hugely. I still get a flare up once or twice a year -usually in the summer because it's so hard to stay hydrated enough when it's hot. I was going to suggest Hipprex which I haven't tried yet but I see you've tried that already. It's totally shit and more money needs to go into funding. But since this is a predominantly female problem, I can't see this happening.

If there's no infection then it's interstitial cystitis you've got isn't it, not a UTI. I mean anything can trigger interstitial cystitis - I think the advice on different positions may be helpful as it may be the physical irritation. I've heard pelvic floor exercises and bladder training useful for interstitial cystitis - 'Heal Pelvic Pain Now' is a good book. I find what I drink or dehydration can cause a flare, sex can too at times. So I have to be careful what I drink - not too much alcohol or sugary drinks. I find chamomile tea to be very soothing when I have a flare. I also use ibuprofen and antihistamine to manage the pain/frequency of urination.

Gosh how awful. I have no practical advice but would you consider seeing a herbalist? I can recommend one if you PM me. (It's not me!)

I used to get it twice a year normally when run down
I keep a stash of antibiotics (get them online ) and they are always in my handbag and some at home just in case
I’ve been taking D Manose every day since my last attack in June and I haven’t had it since so fingers crossed
I’m probably due to get it in Dec 😂so I will see

Thanks for posting about this - I am going to investigate too

This is all good advice. Plus be really strict about not spreading any organisms from around your anus to your urethra. Whether it's, wiping, washing or waving from the chandeliers, there must not be any cross contamination.

You have my sympathy Cystitis is just fucking misery 😓

Wow thanks again all for sharing your experiences and taking the time to reply. Feel a bit less alone in this shit sandwich now.
@FTMworrier rhink I’m going to give pelvic floor physio a go next. Often I wee and then v shortly aftwards can do another full wee. I have had that scan though and nothing found.

@OldWivesTale so sorry you’re suffering too.

re washing after poo/bidets - I always wash afterwards but perhaps a bidet hose thing is a good shout.

@growgrowinggrown i don’t use toys internally so not sure. Good q though

@Cautionsharpblade is the theory bacterial transference from mouth? Worth a go I suppose but we don’t do that every time and I still get cystitis…

@DorritLittle not ahainst herbalists but nothing that isn’t ABs has ever worked for me and I can’t justify money on a herbalist really while paying for private treatment.

someoen unthread mentioned coriander seeds, so sorry can’t find post. I have actually tried this!! Maybe will give another go

Bottle of cold water ( not freezing! But definitely cold!) pour it slowly over your bits whilst sat on the loo after sex. Not super appealing I know but knocks anything on the head for me!

@stingyburnyfuck i guess the mouth is full of bacteria. Also don’t use saliva to lubricate, though I think you said you use lube so that should help.

the urologist said these things often ‘burn out’ after a while and it did, but for a couple of years I always took an antibiotic after sex. I became resistant to trimethoprim but cefalexin worked.

@stingyburnyfuck I hope you find a good PT!
Aside from when you’ve got an infection, do you have any bladder urgency?

I had cystitis for years. Always caused by sex. My husband had to have a circumcision in his forties due to problems with his foreskin. Not had a bout of it since.

Hi I had this for so long and it's horrid! I was put on hiprex (not sure on spelling) and it did seem to help. It's an anti bacterial medication that passes through the bladder I believe. I did still get the odd bout of infection but defo helped. The thing that helped me the most is my husband stopping using condoms! It's made a huge difference. Not sure wether I have a mild allergy or the material was causing like a friction problem and then infection I'm not sure but I've not had a problem in about 10 months! I also haven't take hiprex in that time either.

You said that you can often do another wee not long after you've been?

Always double void. I do anyway but I've been seeing a pelvic floor physio since August and one of the first things she asked me about was whether I got off the loo as soon as I'd finished.

Oh my goodness, I feel your pain!

I'm better now, bit older so sec not as frequent 😢!

But it was shower before and after, not sexy but it really helped!

Have you tried
Acidophilus? The expensive ones you keep in a fridge?