The cause of IC is unknown and it does not get better with antibiotics. Interstitial cystitis (IC) is an inflamed or irritated bladder wall. Talk with a healthcare provider with any questions of concerns you may have about this health problem. But, if a person has IC, stress can make the symptoms worse. Exercise may help ease symptoms or make them stop for a while. Many people with IC find that smoking makes their symptoms worse.Įxercise. Removing these from the diet may help to decrease some symptoms. No proof links diet to IC, but some believe that alcohol, tomatoes, spices, chocolate, caffeinated and citrus beverages, and high-acid foods may contribute to bladder inflammation. Surgery to remove all or part of the bladder may be done in severe cases, if other treatments do not work.ĭiet changes. Over time, you try to lengthen the time between the scheduled voids. You urinate at specific times and use relaxation techniques and distractions to help keep to the schedule. For some people, TENS eases bladder pain and urinary frequency and urgency.īladder training. The pulses are sent through wires placed on the lower back, or through special devices put into the vagina in women or into the rectum in men. Mild, electric pulses enter the body for minutes to hours, 2 or more times a day. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). There are many different drugs that may be used. Medicine may be taken by mouth or put right into the bladder. Then it is drained out through a catheter. The bladder is filled with a solution that is held for varying times, from a few seconds to 15 minutes. It also interferes with pain signals being sent by the nerve cells in the bladder.īladder wash. Treatments are aimed at easing symptoms, and may include:īladder enlargement. There is no cure for IC and it can be hard to treat. This is done to look for inflammation and/or infection of the prostate. Lab exam of prostate secretions (in men). A test in which tissue samples are removed from the bladder (with a needle or during surgery) and checked under a microscope to see if cancer or other abnormal cells are present. This checks for structural changes or blockages.īladder wall biopsy. A thin, flexible tube and viewing device, is put in through the urethra to examine the bladder and other parts of the urinary tract. Also, if present, what kind of bacteria there are in the urine.Ĭystoscopy. Collecting and checking urine for white blood cells and bacteria. This includes red and white blood cells, germs, or too much protein. Lab testing of urine to look for certain cells and chemicals. Your healthcare provider will start by reviewing your medical history and doing a physical exam. For these reasons, a variety of tests may be needed to rule out other problems. And symptoms of IC are a lot like those of other urinary disorders.

Always talk with a healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

The symptoms of IC may look like other conditions or medical problems. Stress may also make symptoms worse, but stress does not cause symptoms. In women, symptoms may worsen around their period In men, discomfort or pain in the penis and scrotum These are the most common symptoms of interstitial cystitis (IC):įeelings of pressure, pain, and tenderness around the bladder, pelvis, and the area between the anus and vagina or anus and scrotum (perineum) What are the symptoms of interstitial cystitis? Most people with IC find that certain foods make their symptoms worse. Researchers are looking at many theories to understand the causes of IC and find the best treatments. The cause of interstitial cystitis (IC) is unknown. The bladder can’t hold as much urine as it did in the past. It can lead to scarring and stiffening of the bladder.

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