Interstitial cystitis
Introduction
Interstitial cystitis is a poorly understood bladder condition that causes long-term pelvic pain and problems with urination.
It's also known as "painful bladder syndrome" or "bladder pain syndrome".
The condition tends to first affect people in their 30s and 40s, and is much more common in women than men.
It can have a significant impact on your lifestyle, work, emotional health and relationships,but a number of different treatments can be tried tohelp relieve the symptoms.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 24 Nov 2016
Introduction
Read about interstitial cystitis, a long-term painful bladder condition. Find out what the symptoms are, what might cause it, and what treatments are available.
Symptoms of interstitial cystitis
The main symptoms of interstitial cystitis are: intense Pelvic pain (felt below your bellybutton) sudden, strong urges to pee needing to pee more often than normal waking up several times during
When to see your GP
You should see your GP if you have persistent pelvic pain or you notice a change in your usual pattern of urination. These symptoms can have a number of causes, so it's a good idea to get a proper dia
What causes interstitial cystitis?
The exact cause of interstitial cystitis isn't clear. Unlike other types of cystitis , there's no obvious infection in the bladder and antibiotics don't help. In some people with the condition, the b
Treatments for interstitial cystitis
Unfortunately, there's currently no cure for interstitial cystitis and it can be difficult to treat, although a number of treatments can be tried. No single treatment works for everyone, however,and
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