Chronic bladder infection is very common, and about 30 or 40 percent of all women suffer from it.
There can be several causes of chronic bladder infections, such as:
- Kidney or bladder stones
- Bacteria entering the urethra during sexual intercourse
- Altered estrogen levels during menopause
- Abnormal urinary tract shape or function
- Genetic predisposition
If a woman has two bouts of infection within a six month period, she should probably go see a doctor.
If no source of infection is found, lifestyle modifications combined with vaginal estrogen replacement is all you may need. Otherwise, long-term, low-dose, preventive antibiotics is the only treatment option. In such cases, you may need to take antibiotics for as long as six months to two years. Researchers are trying to develop a vaccine for some women who seem to be very prone to bladder infections without any identifiable cause other than a genetic predisposition.