| Interstital Cystitis | |
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Introduction >> |
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Symptoms >> |
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Etiology >> |
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Diagnosis >> |
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Epidemiology >> |
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General Management >> |
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Treatment >> |
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Medications >> |
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Direct Bladder Therapy >> |
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Surgical Treatments >> |
SYMPTOMS
The patients with IC commonly complain of urinary frequency and urgency along with bladder pressure, discomfort or pain that extends at times to the suprapubic area, the entire pelvis and to the lower back. The resemblance of these symptoms to the clinical presentation of urinary tract infections (UTIs) has often led to the misdiagnosis of IC as UTI.
Additional IC symptoms include a sensation of being “bloated” in the lower abdomen, dyspareunia (pain during intercourse), hematuria (blood in the urine) and a non-specific discomfort in the genital and perineal areas. The symptoms are commonly chronic, can be at times quite debilitating and are characterized by periods of exacerbations and easing up in their severity. Many women describe a cyclical presentation with intensification of IC symptoms approximately one week before their menstruation while others do not describe a clear pattern.
Updated June 23rd, 2007