Psychoemotional status and evaluation of preventive measures in patients with postcoital cystitis

BACKGROUND: Chronic somatic diseases can affect a person’s psychoemotional state. Few publications are dedicated to assessing the quality of life of patients with recurrent lower urinary tract infections (UTIs). Postcoital cystitis is a distinct form of recurrent lower UTI. Since postcoital cystitis is not considered a life-threatening condition, healthcare providers often fail to give it proper attention, which worsens the psychological state of patients suffering from this condition.

AIM: To analyze the psychoemotional state of patients with postcoital cystitis, as well as their perception of this condition. To evaluate the effectiveness of postcoital antibiotic prophylaxis and women’s satisfaction with this method.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted involving 86 female patients who underwent treatment at City Multidisciplinary Hospital No. 2 from 2018 to 2023. The median age was 30 [25–35] years. The psychoemotional status of the patients was assessed using a survey. Methods of prevention and treatment of postcoital cystitis previously used by the patients were analyzed. Parameters were compared between two groups of patients, depending on the duration of antibiotic use after sexual intercourse. Additionally, the patients were invited to answer questions related to this condition in their own words.

RESULTS: Many patients described their experiences in emotionally charged terms. Symptoms of depression or anxiety disorder were reported by 82.6% of the patients. The duration of the condition among the analyzed patients was 6.5 [4–11.25] years. The number of physicians consulted by the patients for postcoital cystitis was 6 [5–10]. Sixty out of 86 women (69.8%) used antibiotic prophylaxis after sexual intercourse. Initially, primary antibiotic prophylaxis was effective in 86.7% of the patients. Among women who used antibiotic prophylaxis for 6 months or longer, the positive effect persisted in 57.6% of cases (р <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Postcoital cystitis has a multifactorial negative impact on women’s lives, affecting their physical, psychoemotional, and social well-being, and it may also have a negative effect on their sexual partner. The effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis decreases over time, and the patients are not willing to use this method for an extended period.