top of page
stomach-pain-slide-image-1200x800.jpeg

What Is Interstitial Cystitis?

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the bladder. The actual cause of IC is unknown, and it does not respond to conventional antibiotic therapy like common cystitis, also known as urinary tract infection.

The most common symptoms of interstitial cystitis are urinary frequency during the day or night; urgency, which is the sensation of having to urinate immediately and may also be accompanied by pain, pressure, or spasms; and pain, which can be located in the lower abdomen, urethral, or vaginal areas. Pain can also be associated with sexual intercourse. Men who have IC may experience pain in the testicular and/or scrotal areas and may have pain during ejaculation. Interstitial cystitis has unexplainably been associated with certain other chronic diseases and pain syndromes, such as vulvar vestibulitis, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome.

bottom of page