Interstitial cystitis

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic condition that causes painful urinary symptoms. Symptoms and severity can vary. Some people may have only mild discomfort, or feel tenderness or pressure in the bladder or pelvis. Others may experience intense bladder pain, urgent or frequent needs to urinate, or pain during sexual intercourse. Symptoms may be constant, or they may come and go. Some people with IC have Hunner's ulcers (areas of inflammation on the bladder wall, identified by cytoscopy).

The exact cause of IC is not known. While the symptoms are similar to those of a bladder infection, IC is not an infection. It occurs more commonly in women, and in people with other chronic pain disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome or fibromyalgia.

There is no cure for IC, but there are treatment options to help relieve the symptoms. No single treatment works for all people with IC. Often, people try different treatments or combinations of treatments before finding something that works. Treatment options may include lifestyle changes, oral or topical medications, bladder instillations, neuromodulation therapy, Botox injections in the bladder muscles, and surgery (in rare cases). Without treatment, IC can affect a person's sleep, daily activities, and social life.