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Summary
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a condition that causes discomfort or pain in the bladder and a need to urinate frequently and urgently. It is far more common in women than in men. The symptoms vary from person to person. Some people may have pain without urgency or frequency. Others have urgency and frequency without pain. Women's symptoms often get worse during their periods. They may also have pain with sexual intercourse.
The cause of IC isn't known. There is no one test to tell if you have it. Doctors often run tests to rule out other possible causes of symptoms. There is no cure for IC, but treatments can help most people feel better. They include
- Distending, or inflating, the bladder
- Bathing the inside of the bladder with a drug solution
- Oral medicines
- Electrical nerve stimulation
- Physical therapy
- Lifestyle changes
- Bladder training
- In rare cases, surgery
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Symptoms
- General IC Symptoms (Interstitial Cystitis Association)
Diagnosis and Tests
-
Cystoscopy and Ureteroscopy
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Treatments and Therapies
- IC Treatment: Antidepressants (Interstitial Cystitis Association)
- IC Treatment: Antihistamines (Interstitial Cystitis Association)
- IC Treatment: Surgical Procedures (Interstitial Cystitis Association)
Living With
- Bladder Retraining (Interstitial Cystitis Association)
- Interstitial Cystitis and Diet (Interstitial Cystitis Association)
Related Issues
- Hunner's Ulcers (Interstitial Cystitis Association)
- IC Associated Conditions (Interstitial Cystitis Association)
- IC: Frequently Asked Questions (Interstitial Cystitis Association)
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Cystitis
(National Institutes of Health)
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Cystitis, Interstitial
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Web-mediated counseling to counteract the emotional impact of COVID-19 for women...
- Article: Natural bladder filling alters resting brain function at multiple spatial scales:...
- Article: Repeated intravesical injections of platelet-rich plasma improve symptoms and alter urinary...
- Interstitial Cystitis -- see more articles
Reference Desk
-
Urinary Tract and How It Works
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
Find an Expert
- Find a Urologist (Urology Care Foundation)
-
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Children
- Children and IC (Interstitial Cystitis Association)
Men
- Men and IC (Interstitial Cystitis Association)
Women
- Pregnancy and IC (Interstitial Cystitis Association)
Patient Handouts
- Interstitial cystitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish