Interstitial Cystitis

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Living With
• Related Issues

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Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Men
• Women
• Patient Handouts

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

Start Here

• Interstitial Cystitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Interstitial Cystitis (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Interstitial Cystitis / Painful Bladder Syndrome (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)
• Diagnosis of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (Beyond the Basics) (UpToDate)

Treatments and Therapies

• IC Treatment: Antidepressants (Interstitial Cystitis Association)
• IC Treatment: Antihistamines (Interstitial Cystitis Association)
• IC Treatment: Surgical Procedures (Interstitial Cystitis Association)
• Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (Beyond the Basics) (UpToDate)

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: Understanding pain and coping in women with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain...
• Article: Characterizing Health Care Utilization, Direct Costs, and Comorbidities Associated with...
• Article: Alpha Lipoic Acid Plus Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Vestibulodynia Associated...
• 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

• Directory of Kidney and Urologic Diseases Organizations (National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse) - PDF
• 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