Interstitial Cystitis
Medical Author:
George Lazarou, MD, FACOG
Coauthor:
Shehnaz Shaikh, MD
Medical Editor:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical EditorMelissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Interstitial Cystitis OverviewInflammation is a protective reaction of the body tissue to irritation, injury, or infection. Inflammation of the bladder is called cystitis. When the inflammation is caused by bacterial infection, it is referred to as bacterial cystitis or just cystitis. Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a condition that causes pain and inflammation in the bladder when no infection is found. (Other causes of noninfectious inflammation of the bladder are also possible.) Inflammation of the bladder causes urinary frequency (frequent need to urinate), urgency (urgent need to urinate), pelvic pain, painful urination, incontinence, and nocturia (frequent need to urinate at night). Long-term inflammation of the bladder in people with IC can lead to scarring and stiffening of the bladder wall, which causes a decrease in the bladder capacity. Pinpoint areas of bleeding, called glomerulations, may occur in the lining of the bladder wall. IC is believed to be a spectrum of disease initially presenting with mild symptoms and progressing to severe urgency and pelvic pain. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), IC affects about 700,000 people in the United States, and 90% of IC patients are women. It is believed that IC is a much more prevalent disease and that many patients have early forms of IC with a delayed diagnosis. The average age of onset of IC is 40 years. Viewer Comments & ReviewsInterstitial Cystitis - DietThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What changes to your diet have helped manage your Interstitial Cystitis? Interstitial Cystitis - Describe Your ExperienceThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:Please describe your experience with interstitial cystitis. |
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Interstitial Cystitis
Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Interstitial Cystitis is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
Synonyms
- Hunner's Ulcer
- IC
- Hunner's Patch
- Pelvic Pain Syndrome
- Trigonitis
- Urethral Syndrome
Disorder Subdivisions
- None
General Discussion
Interstitial cystitis is a chronic, painful inflammatory condition of the bladder wall characterized by pressure and pain above the pubic area along with increased frequency and urgency of urination. This occurs because of chronic inflammation of the lining of the bladder and swelling of the interior walls of the bladder. Affected individuals urinate frequently with pain even though there is no diagnosed bladder infection. In a small percentage of cases, people with interstitial cys...
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Interstitial Cystitis »
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a clinical syndrome characterized by daytime and nighttime urinary frequency, urgency, and pelvic pain of unknown etiology.
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