Cystitis, simply put, is inflammation of the bladder and can be divided into acute bacterial cystitis and chronic bacterial cystitis. Acute cystitis typically affects women more often due to the shorter female urethra. Infections can occur following sexual intercourse, catheterization, poor personal hygiene, or reduced resistance to bacteria, such as during a cold, which might lead to an ascending infection. Symptoms are generally most pronounced at the superficial bladder, particularly near the internal urethral orifice and the trigone of the bladder. Chronic cystitis often develops from an acute upper urinary tract infection or through chronic infection and may also be triggered or followed by certain lower urinary tract conditions, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, chronic prostatitis, urethral stricture, bladder stones, hymenal fusion at the urethral opening, or paraurethral gland inflammation. It is generally characterized by persistent frequent urination, urgency, painful urination, and discomfort in the suprapubic bladder area.