A Common Bladder Infection

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Cystitis is an infection in your bladder that is caused by bacteria.

If you have a bladder infection you may feel pain when you urinate or you could have an increased desire to urinate more often. It can happen in men and women but it is quite common in women of reproductive age.

It is normal to have bacteria that live around your urethra which is where the urine comes out but sometimes these bacteria can get into your bladder. People who are most likely to have bladder infections are those who hold their urine for a long time, have sex often or are pregnant.

There are many effective medications for bladder infections. We can get urine cultures at the office to find out what bacteria we need to treat and the medicine usually only has to be given for three to five days. And yes, drinking cranberry juice has been shown to help.

Reported By Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio Medical Editor