This damage causes your bladder not to empty completely, so that some urine is always left. This predisposes you to repeated infections. Once the pressure on these nerves is relieved, your infections will clear up.

PELVIC SURGERY: During hysterectomy or other pelvic surgery the nerves to the bladder can also be damaged. In this case, you would notice that your bladder symptoms began right after the surgery.

BIRTH CONTROL: Diaphragms that are too large can alter the angle of the bladder neck, making it difficult to empty the bladder completely. You can avoid this problem by making sure your diaphragm fits right, and by urinating before you put it in and six hours later, after you remove it.

Tampons can also cause the same problem. Women with chronic cystitis should remove tampons before they urinate, or use sanitary napkins. They should also use unbleached tampons and pads.

Excess spermicide, foam, or lubricant can also irritate the urethra and predispose you to infections. According to Dr. Gregor Reid (Globe And Mail May 15/93), spermicides destroy a woman's helpful bacteria and increase the risk of bladder infections by as much as four times.

SEXUAL PRACTICES: Too much sex, too little sex or oral sex do not cause cystitis. However, after sex it is important to urinate, but only after you have waited long enough to build up a good forceful stream to wash out the bacteria that have accumulated in the bladder.

Not Enough Good Bacteria In The Vagina

Dr. Andrew Bruce, Chief of Urology, and Dr. Gregor Reid, Director of Urology Research, at Toronto General Hospital have been studying women with chronic bladder infections.

"When we looked at the two groups of women, those who did not have infections, had beautiful growths of lactobacilli," Dr. Bruce commented in the Toronto Star (Apr13/92). "The lactobacilli seem to have a protective effect. A significant number of women who had repeated infections had a poor population of lactobacilli."

As a result, Dr. Bruce and his research team developed an experimental vaginal suppository called Restoration Plus. It contains two key strains of lactobacilli called lactobacillus casei and lactobacillus fermentum.

In the study, one group of 28 women with four proven bladder infections within the past 12 months, was treated with the acidophilus suppositories; the other group with inert suppositories. Another arm of the study treated 40 women with acute bladder infections with a three-day course of antibiotics followed by a three-month course of Restoration Plus, and compared it to results with 20 women treated with antibiotics followed by three months of placebo.

The results of this study have shown Restoration Plus to be a very effective preventative treatment for bladder infections. Acidophilus suppositories seem to stimulate the normal growth of lactobacilli in the vagina. The treatment is given once a week for six to 12 months. Dr. Reid estimates that the new treatment could save the North American health care system $150 million a year.

Tests You Should Have Done If You Suspect You Have Infectious Cystitis

• Always give a urine sample before starting on antibiotics.

You can also purchase urine dipsticks at any drug store, or through your doctor, that can screen for urinary infections. If there are no bacteria found in your urine, stop taking the antibiotic right away. If there are usually no bacteria found in your urine, you may suspect that you have IC.

• Also make sure your urine has been examined under the microscope to check for blood and pus cells and help make a more accurate diagnosis.

• If bacteria repeatedly show up in your urine, you should have an IVP or X-ray of your kidney done at least once.

An IVP is an X-ray of your kidneys and urinary tract taken after an iodine dye is injected into your veins. The dye makes your kidneys and whole urinary tract visible on the X-ray.