Interstitial cystitis
Evidence: Unconfirmed
Names
Painful bladder syndrome
Bladder pain syndrome
IC
PBS
Description
Interstitial cystitis is a chronic disorder that affects the urinary system. Common symptoms include frequent urination, urinary urgency, pelvic pain, and pain during or after sexual intercourse. These symptoms can flare and can cause different levels of discomfort in different people. Some symptomatic flares last only days, while others can affect a person for months. Environmental factors that may cause symptoms to intensify include menstruation, stress, sexual activity, exercise, and specific foods and drinks. These symptoms can affect a person’s quality of life. For example, a person with interstitial cystitis may feel the urge to urinate up to 60 times a day, causing interruptions in daily activities, including sleep.
Currently, the cause of interstitial cystitis is unknown. There are two main theories about its cause. The first is damage to the tissue lining of the bladder. This damage allows toxins to leak into the bladder, further damaging the organ. The second theory is inflammation to the bladder. Both theorized causes could be due to an autoimmune disorder, leading the immune system to attack the bladder. The variety of treatments that are currently available fail to prevent the worsening of the disease, but can help with symptom relief.
Patient Groups
Bloggers
Prevalence
US Cases: 34,000 - 72,000 [Patnaik 2017]. Estimates of prevalence are inconsistent: Female: 45 per 100,000; Male: 8 per 100,000
General Population: 10.6 per 100,000. Based on this data, ARI estimates prevalence between 10.6 and 22.5 (50% of female rate) per 100,000.
Typical Age of onset
Women over 40 years of age
Source: [Patnaik 2017]
Symptoms
Pain or pressure in the bladder, lower abdomen, and pelvic area
Women: pain in the vulva, vagina, or the area behind the vagina
Men: pain in the scrotum, testicles, penis, or the area behind the scrotum
Stronger than normal urge to urinate
Frequent urination (more than 7-8 times a day)
Pain during sex
