The Common Bladder Infection

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - In medicine, we call it cystitis but the average person calls it a urinary tract infection. Put simply cystitis is an infection in your bladder that is caused by bacteria.

People who have a bladder infection know the symptoms well. There can be pain with urination, and an unusually strong need to urinate. There can also be a desire to urinate more often and there can be pain in the lower stomach. The most common group to have bladder infections are healthy women of reproductive age.
Here is the issue.

It is normal to have bacteria that live around your urethra where the urine comes out and these bacteria are not harmful except when they get into your bladder.

People who get bladder infections are more likely to hold urine for a long time.

Bladder infections can also be associated with increased sexual activity and pregnancy. Your doctor can get a culture and treat the infection quite effectively with antibiotics.