Interstitial Cystitis
(from the National Library of Medicine)

What is interstitial cystitis?
A bladder condition that produces the same symptoms as a bladder infection but with no obvious cause.

Causes and risks
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is an inflammation of the tissues of the bladder wall. However, there is no known cause for the inflammation (such as an infection).

Symptoms of interstitial cystitis include the need to urinate frequently; a feeling of urgent need to urinate; and urinary discomfort including pain, burning, or cramping. Pain may also accompany sexual intercourse. Unlike bacterial cystitis, which is an infection of the bladder, there is no known cause for interstitial cystitis. The condition is a diagnosis of exclusion.

There are approximately 50,000 cases diagnosed each year in the United States, although it is estimated that there may be as many as half-a-million affected individuals. The prevalence of the disease in women is 20 per 100,000 in the United States. Each year, more and more patients with IC are seeking treatment.

Interstitial cystitis affects mostly women (9 women are affected for every 1 man) and generally occurs after age 40. For the average person with interstitial cystitis, there is a 4 year delay between the time the first symptoms occur and the diagnosis. This demonstrates both the difficulty of diagnosis and how infrequently this condition is suspected.

Symptoms

• Urinary frequency (there can be a need to urinate as often as 60 or 70 times each day)
• Urinary urgency
• Urinary discomfort (dysuria)
• Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)

Signs and tests

Diagnosis is made by ruling-out other causes such as bladder infection, sexually-transmitted disease, bladder cancer, vaginal infection, endometriosis, or other causes. The characteristic finding of interstitial cystitis during cystoscopy is pinpoint bleeding (hemorrhage) in the lining of the bladder. Sometimes, a biopsy of the bladder wall is helpful to confirm the presence of interstitial cystitis.

Complications

Chronic pain which may cause a change in lifestyle Emotional trauma High costs associated with frequent medical visits Chronic depression (and accompanying suicidal thoughts) Adverse effects of treatments (depending on the treatment)

Resources
ICA
51 Monroe Street-Suite
1402 Rockville, MD 20850
http://www.ichelp.org

National Association for Continence
(formerly: Help for Incontinent People)
P.O. Box 8310
Spartanburg, SC 29305
864-579-7900
FAX (864) 579-79028310
http://www.nafc.org

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