UTIs are very common conditions caused by bacteria in your urinary tract — the part of your body responsible for urination that includes the urethra, bladder, and kidneys. UTI is an umbrella term for similar infections affecting any part of the urinary tract.
Cystitis is a form of bladder infection that causes inflammation. It is most often due to a UTI. However, in rare cases, other factors, like certain medications, may also cause it.
Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article uses the terms “women,” “men,” or both when discussing people assigned female or male at birth to reflect language that appears in source materials.
While gender is solely about how you identify yourself, independent of your physical body, you may need to consider how your personal circumstances will affect diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment.
What is a UTI?
UTIs are infections caused by an overgrowth of bacteria — usually E. coli — in the urinary tract. This might happen if your wiping technique after using the bathroom allows feces to enter the urethra. They’re among the most common bacterial infections doctors identify.
UTIs are very common, and they’re more common in people with vaginas than people with penises. This is because the urethra is shorter in these populations. Around 50% of women will experience a UTI at some point, and many will experience them recurrently.
UTI may refer to infections anywhere in the urinary tract. UTIs affecting the kidneys are called pyelonephritis, infections affecting the urethra are called urethritis, and those affecting the bladder are known as cystitis.
UTIs can be very uncomfortable, causing symptoms such as:
- a frequent need to urinate
- a burning sensation when you pee
- cloudy or strong-smelling urine
- pelvic pain
- fever or chills in rare cases
- blood in the urine
Most UTIs aren’t cause for concern. You can usually successfully manage them with a short course of antibiotics. These are uncomplicated UTIs, which most often affect the bladder and lower urinary tract. Complicated UTIs, on the other hand, affect the upper urinary tract (the kidneys) and may be more serious.
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What is cystitis?
Cystitis specifically refers to infections causing inflammation in your bladder. They may be a form of UTI known as uncomplicated bacterial cystitis. This is the most common cause of cystitis. However, they may not always be due to an infection — medications or certain hygiene products may be the cause instead.
Some forms of cystitis that are not considered UTIs include:
- Interstitial cystitis (IC): This is a chronic form of cystitis that affects multiple layers of bladder tissue. It shares symptoms with UTIs but isn’t due to a bacterial infection. Symptoms may happen in flares, and experts aren’t sure what exactly causes IC.
- Chemical cystitis: Cystitis may be caused by chemical irritants, such as those in harsh cleansers or perfumed products. It’s noninfectious and doesn’t result from bacteria.
- Radiation cystitis: Radiation therapy, often used as a cancer treatment, may damage the bladder lining, causing inflammation.
- Drug-induced cystitis: Some medications may cause inflammation in the bladder as a side effect.
Most of the symptoms of cystitis, regardless of the form, overlap with those of a UTI. Uncomplicated cystitis is less likely to cause severe symptoms like fever and chills — these generally only occur if a UTI has spread to your kidneys.
Key differences
The main difference between UTI and cystitis is that UTI is a broad term for bacterial infections in your entire urinary tract, whereas cystitis specifically refers to inflammation in the bladder. The key differences between them include:
- Location: UTIs are bacterial infections anywhere in the urinary tract, whereas cystitis affects only the bladder.
- Causes: UTIs are always due to bacterial infections. Cystitis may be bacterial in nature but may also be due to medications or chemical irritation.
- Scope: UTI is a broad term for infections affecting your urinary tract, whereas cystitis is a more specific condition referring to your bladder.
Treatments for UTI and cystitis
Because bacteria cause UTIs and the majority of cystitis cases, antibiotics are the primary treatment:
- nitrofurantoin (Macrobid)
- sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim)
- amoxicillin clavulanate (Augmentin)
- ciprofloxacin (Ciloxan)
- trimethoprim (Primsol)
The length of time you’ll need to take antibiotics depends on individual factors and the type of antibiotic your doctor prescribes. Treatment can last as little as 3 days or may last up to several weeks in severe or chronic cases, but you should start noticing improvements within 48 hours.
Some over-the-counter (OTC) medications may help soothe your symptoms of pain and inflammation. Examples of these include:
Phenazopyridine (Uristat) is an OTC drug that can help manage symptoms. This drug is a urinary analgesic, meaning it relieves pain when you’re passing urine. It also helps reduce the urgency and frequency of your urination.
You can also try some self-care remedies for UTI and cystitis. Drinking plenty of water is the number one method to help speed up recovery. Increasing your water intake will make you urinate more, which helps flush out the infection. UTIs may clear up on their own in around 20% of cases, particularly in people who increase their hydration.
Traditionally, some people use cranberry juice or supplements to help manage UTIs at home, which may be helpful.
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If you have a UTI or cystitis, you’ll know how uncomfortable symptoms can be. Seeking the proper treatment can help speed up your recovery.
Online care services, including Optum Perks Online Care, may make getting treatment easier. With these services, you can submit an online form answering a few questions about your symptoms, and a US-licensed healthcare professional will respond soon after to prescribe a treatment plan.
Summary
UTIs and cystitis are very similar, and you may hear the terms used interchangeably. However, there are some subtle distinctions between the two conditions.
UTI is a broad term that refers to a bacterial infection anywhere in your urinary tract, which comprises your urethra, bladder, and kidneys. On the other hand, cystitis is an infection or inflammation in your bladder. Many cases of cystitis are UTIs, but sometimes, the inflammation is due to other factors.
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