My sister regularly suffers from cystitis. Any tips on prevention of and aiding it??

Hi, Is it chronic? Had it a long time? Suffers frequent bladder infections? there is no prevention once you have it (IC), but you can prevent flares. Start by watching (her) diet there are a lot of foods that are acidic-stay away from! Drinks too, the rule is if it starts with a "C" it is probably a no no. Caffeine and chocolate causes flares for instance. Yes, urinating after intercourse everyone should do, but that is not the cause. The lining of the bladder is sensitive and thinning so whatever goes in (mouth) is coming out so just think about that while dinning out or cooking. Stay away from spices, alcohol, Mexican foods, is another example. Stress causes flares, and a low immune system, other conditions being aggravated will also cause a flare. Obviously she has been Dx, or she wouldn't know she has it, a urologist should be seen on a regular basis, for tx. There are over the counter herbs also that prevent flares and the doctor (urologist can prescribe medications to calm the bladder, prevent spasms, and help the flares be a little bit milder), there are also installments to put in the bladder, they are called rescue installments, of heprin and marcaine, that you can do at home or the doctors office. If she has never had one a hdro/cysto test would be good for a doctor to check what stage she is in? Done as a outpatient, a 20 min. procedure, if needed. Good luck, I also suffer from IC, it is a terrible thing, more people need to be educated about it, frequent bladder infections is a early sign! Antibiotics are not always the answer. There are support groups in every state plus the IC network-national, that provides very GOOD information. Hope this helps. Tash

Tell her to take a pee as soon as she has had sex....if she is not having sex then she should see a dietician....some foods can make it worse.

Drink water, always go wee after intercourse and avoid 'rough' intercourse.

drink loads of cranberry juice (low sugar version)
Take immune-building vits.
Don't drink too much alcohol.
Avoid spicy food.
Pee after sex.

drink half a litre of cranberry juice a day, and loose pants and no really hot baths

drink plenty of cranberry juice which is absolutely great, i used to suffer alot cause i have bad kidneys but as soon as i feel i am gettin it i drink plenty of cranberry juice and it clears up almost instantly:)

pee after sex

don't use soaps or gels down there

drink cranberry stuff but NOT the stuff from the supermarket. either buy it from a healthfood shop or she can make it herself but forget ocean spray and all those, they are not particularly effective. i have a glass a day and haven't had an infection in 10 years.

Yes drink Cranberry juice and I am quite sure that your sister will not feel like sex when she is suffereing from this. Avoid wearing tights and tight fitting trousers. Stockings the best thing and can look sexy too. Also try some Sodium Bicarbonate in the water when bathing. As with everthing else if the problem persists see a GP

wee before and after sex and drink pleanty of water and cranberry juice, dont hold your wee EVER as this will cause the infection and avoid spicy foods. were soft comfortable clean underwear and wash down there frequently with soap free and fragrance free products, if possible ones that are designed for use down below. hope this helps i used to get this all the time so i no all these things work as my doc told me! xx

She should try and go to the toilet before and as soon as she can after sex.
I have also found that taking cranberry tablets help keep it at bay (as i don't like drinking cranberry juice!). I personally try and use these instead of anti-biotics as your body gets used to anti-biotics and then they aren't as affective.
There is also waterfall d-mannose that a lot of websites recommend but i have never tried this.
When i realise that i have one, i take a couple of cranberry tablets and drink 3 pints of water at once - you will feel a bit bloated but then this should clear your system. Keep drinking plenty of water as this flushes your system out and keeps the infection at bay.

drink lots of water, pee before and after sex, wipe front to back after bowel movement , take 3 glasses cranberry juice or a supplement of it (seven seas make a strong one) however this take s 3 weeks to have any effect with daily use.