What Is the Difference Between a Urinary Tract Infection & Interstitial Cystitis?

A urinary tract infection is an acute condition requiring immediate treatment while interstitial cystitis is a chronic bladder problem.

Urinary Tract Infection

• A urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection of the urinary system, usually the urethra or bladder but may include the kidneys or ureters. According to the Mayo Clinic, a urinary tract infection is usually treated with antibiotics.

Interstitial Cystitis

• Interstitial cystitis (also called painful bladder syndrome) is a chronic condition in which you experience uncomfortable bladder pressure, bladder pain and sometimes pain in your pelvis. The pain can range from mild to severe.

What Happens in Interstitial Cystitis

• When you bladder is full, it sends signals through the pelvic nerves to the brain, which creates the urge to urinate. With interstitial cystitis, the signals are mixed up, and you feel the need to urinate more often and with smaller volumes of urine.

Interstitial Cystitis Treatment

• According to the Mayo Clinic, no treatment reliably gets rid of interstitial cystitis, but you can get some relief from a variety of medications and other therapies.

Considerations

• According to the Mayo Clinic, interstitial cystitis affects an estimated 1 million Americans, mostly women, and can have a long-lasting adverse impact on quality of life. You can get support from the Interstitial Cystitis Association.