The literal meaning of the word ‘Honeymoon’ is a holiday spent together by a newly married couple, the word brings with it pleasant and happy memories. So, why such a happy feeling is associated with a disease? Woman's experience, Honeymoon cystitis which is a type of UTI after the first sexual intercourse or in women who have a sexual encounter, after abstinence.
Before jumping into honeymoon cystitis, we shall first start with Cystitis. Cystitis is a medical term for urinary bladder inflammation. Anyone can get this. This inflammation of bladder happens when the bacteria enter the bladder through the vaginal opening settles down in the bladder. A bacterial infection causes this inflammation and hence we say the condition as Urinary Tract Infection.
While honeymoon Cystitis is a type of cystitis which occurs due to sexual activity, where again the bladder wall is inflated. But because this inflammation of the bladder is caused after sexual intercourse, it’s named as Honeymoon cystitis.
But why is this a concern? This inflammation of the vaginal wall, caused by frequent intercourse, allows the bacteria to travel to the urine tube easily, making a female prone to infections and UTI. Honeymoon Cystitis is a kind of UTI that happens with intercourse. And as we all know UTI is a bothersome condition for both males and females, affecting sexual health.
The bacteria in the perineum area enter the urine tract and reach the urinary bladder and settles down in urinary bladder causing inflammation, this is called cystitis. And this process happening during the first intercourse is called Honeymoon Cystitis. But this condition is also seen in menopausal women along with women, who have intercourse after a prolonged gap.
Dr. Rahul Reddy, andrologist, explains the symptoms of this condition. “Basic symptoms are the same for both cystitis and honeymoon cystitis. These include burning sensation, lower abdominal pain, fever with chills, and a frequent urge to urinate,” explains the doctor.
Honeymoon cystitis stays in women’s vagina for three to four days on average. Taking adequate water is enough to treat the condition of many women. But for women who don’t take adequate water, this condition can stay for a longer period. In women with poor immunity, this condition can stay as long as two-three weeks and require medicines to treat the condition. In very few women the infection reaches the kidney level.
Dr. Reddy speaks about how women can avoid such infections, “Most bacteria wash out when women urinate right after intercourse. Having adequate water during the honeymoon period also helps the bacteria to flush out, as a frequent emptying of bladder flushes out the bacteria too. Using proper lubricant while having frequent intercourse during the early days of marriage and wiping the vaginal area clean after intercourse can help women to avoid infection. In menopausal women, it’s required that use hormonal cream (If they prefer intercourse) to increase blood supply and lubrication inside the vaginal wall. This helps them to get rid of any bladder inflammation.
Honeymoon Cystitis is effecting menopausal women than women of early marriage. Women in the menopausal stage fear to have any intercourse after repetitive episodes of this condition and this can affect their sexual lives. In these women, because of hormonal imbalance, there is dryness of the vaginal wall. And in a few women who also have diabetes and obesity, controlling cystitis is time taking.
As cystitis is a form of UTI, it can bother women with symptoms like a burning sensation, vaginal itch, and also abdominal pain. While women during their early marriage can avoid this by taking adequate water and finding the condition in the early stage and using a basic medication, women in the menopausal stage can find it bothersome.
You can reach out to Dr. Rahul Reddy with your queries at andrologistdoctor@gmail.com
