The Symptoms, Causes & Risk Factors of Interstitial Cystitis

Interstitial cystitis is a condition that affects the bladder. It is a chronic disease that strikes about 1 million people in the United States. It is much more common in adult women than in men or children. Since there is no cure, most remedies target symptom management. The symptoms of interstitial cystitis wax and wane, but it never truly resolves itself.

Symptoms

• Every person with interstitial cystitis experiences different symptoms. Common symptoms include a strong urge to urinate often, urination of up to 60 times a day but with only small amounts, pain in the pelvis, pain in the vagina, scrotum or anus and pain during sexual intercourse. People with interstitial cystitis have similar symptoms to those with a urinary tract infection, except tests are negative for bacteria. Factors such as stress and allergies may make symptoms more severe.

Causes

• It is thought that people with interstitial cystitis have a problem in the lining of the bladder. If there is a leak, urine may inflame the wall of the bladder and this may lead to ulceration of the lining. Nerves are also involved since they trigger the urge to urinate. The cause of the disease is not known but doctors believe it could be hereditary, part of an auto-immune response or an allergic reaction.

Risk Factors

• The people most likely to develop interstitial cystitis are people in their 30s or 40s, people who are sexually active and people with other chronic diseases such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and myofascial pain syndrome. If left untreated, interstitial cystitis can lower the quality of life, reduce the capacity of the bladder and result in emotional difficulties. Interrupted sleep and a weakened immune system are common side effects of the disorder.

Diagnosis

• Since there is no one definitive test for interstitial cystitis, a urologist will rule out other conditions before making a diagnosis. An exam will include a medical history, a pelvic exam and a urinalysis. Since people with interstitial cystitis are sensitive to potassium, your doctor may put potassium into your bladder to check for pain. People with a normal bladder will not feel any pain. A cytoscopy may also be performed so the doctor can see an image of the lining of your bladder.

Medicine

• Most treatments are aimed at relieving symptoms. Your doctor may prescribe pills to help with the pain, antidepressants to aid in relaxation of the bladder or antihistamines to reduce urination. One medication, Elmiron, is used to treat interstitial cystitis. It is thought to repair the bladder lining. Other treatment options include the inserting of medication directly into the bladder, nerve stimulation and surgery. Surgery is only performed in the most severe cases and is aimed at repairing the bladder or burning off ulcers that have developed there.