Chronic recurrent bacterial cystitis is a condition that is disabling to a great extent and which influences quality of life and freedom of movement. The episodes can be painful, and lead to extensive use of antibiotics, which in itself promotes development of bacterial strains increasingly resistant to antibiotics, but do not prevent relapses. Almost all cystitis' in women are ascending infections from bacteria in the vagina, following colonization from the rectum. There have, however, been reported indications that there may be bacteria colonies within the urothelium that might give rise to relapses of the infections, rather than pure reinfection from ascending pathogens.