Interstitial Cystitis: MedlinePlus

Interstitial Cystitis: MedlinePlus



A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health

 

Interstitial Cystitis

URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/interstitialcystitis.html

Also called: Bladder pain syndrome, IC, Painful bladder syndrome, PBS

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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

 

IC Treatment: Antidepressants

10/17/2013 08:28 AM EDT

Source: Interstitial Cystitis Association
Related MedlinePlus Page: Interstitial Cystitis

General IC Symptoms

10/17/2013 08:28 AM EDT

Source: Interstitial Cystitis Association
Related MedlinePlus Page: Interstitial Cystitis

IC Treatment: Antihistamines

10/17/2013 08:28 AM EDT

Source: Interstitial Cystitis Association
Related MedlinePlus Page: Interstitial Cystitis

IC Treatment: Surgical Procedures

10/17/2013 08:28 AM EDT

Source: Interstitial Cystitis Association
Related MedlinePlus Page: Interstitial Cystitis

Hunner's Ulcers

10/17/2013 08:28 AM EDT

Source: Interstitial Cystitis Association
Related MedlinePlus Page: Interstitial Cystitis

 

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

• Interstitial cystitis (IC)
• Urination - painful

Related Topics

• Bladder Diseases
• Kidneys and Urinary System

National Institutes of Health

• The primary NIH organization for research on Interstitial Cystitis is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

 

Start Here

• Interstitial Cystitis(American Academy of Family Physicians)
• Also available in Spanish
• What I Need to Know about Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Overviews

• Interstitial Cystitis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Interstitial Cystitis (Painful Bladder Syndrome)(Urology Care Foundation)
• Interstitial Cystitis / Painful Bladder Syndrome(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Diagnosis/Symptoms

• Cystoscopy and Ureteroscopy(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
• Diagnosis of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (Beyond the Basics)(UpToDate)
• General IC Symptoms(Interstitial Cystitis Association)

Treatment

• IC Treatment: Antidepressants(Interstitial Cystitis Association)
• IC Treatment: Antihistamines(Interstitial Cystitis Association)
• IC Treatment: Surgical Procedures(Interstitial Cystitis Association)

Nutrition

• Interstitial Cystitis (IC) Diet(Interstitial Cystitis Association)
• Return to top

Disease Management

• Bladder Retraining(Interstitial Cystitis Association)
• IC Self-Help Techniques(Interstitial Cystitis Association)
• Also available in Spanish
• Return to top

Related Issues

• Hunner's Ulcers(Interstitial Cystitis Association)
• IC Associated Conditions(Interstitial Cystitis Association)
• IC: Frequently Asked Questions(Interstitial Cystitis Association)
• Intimacy and IC(Interstitial Cystitis Association)
• Also available in Spanish
• Return to top

Anatomy/Physiology

• Your Urinary System and How It Works(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
• Also available in Spanish
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Financial Issues

• Health Insurance(Interstitial Cystitis Association)
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Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Cystitis(National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Cystitis, Interstitial(National Institutes of Health)
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Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Validation of voiding diary for stratification of bladder pain syndrome...
• Article: Painful bladder syndrome and interstitial cystitis: treatment options.
• Article: Estrogen and progesterone receptors in patients with bladder pain syndrome.
• Interstitial Cystitis -- see more articles
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Dictionaries/Glossaries

• Glossary of Terminology(Interstitial Cystitis Association)
• Urologic Diseases Dictionary(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
• Also available in Spanish
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Directories

• Directory of Kidney and Urologic Diseases Organizations(National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse) - PDF
• Find a Urologist(Urology Care Foundation)
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Organizations

• Interstitial Cystitis Association
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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Statistics

• 4 to 12 Million May Have IC(Interstitial Cystitis Association)
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Children

• Children and IC(Interstitial Cystitis Association)
• Also available in Spanish
• Return to top

Men

• Men and IC(Interstitial Cystitis Association)
• Also available in Spanish
• Return to top

Women

• Pregnancy and IC(Interstitial Cystitis Association)
• Return to top

Patient Handouts

• Interstitial cystitis (IC)
• Also available in Spanish