Interstitial cystitis
Alternative Names
Interstitial cystitis, Cystitis - interstitial; ICWhat is Interstitial cystitis
Interstitial cystitis is a type of cystitis in which you have a long-standing inflammation of the bladder, but the cause of the inflammation is not clear. This condition is more prevalent in women, than in men.
Signs and symptoms
People with interstitial cystitis may have the following symptoms:
- Pain during intercourse
- Pelvic pain
- Urinary discomfort
- Urinary frequency (up to 60 times a day in severe cases)
- Urinary urgency
Possible complications
Possible complications caused by this condition include:
- Chronic depression
- Chronic pain that may cause a change in lifestyle
- Emotional trauma
- High costs associated with frequent medical visits
- Side effects of treatments (depending on the treatment)
What causes
The exact cause of interstitial cystitis is still unclear.
Prevention
It is impossible to prevent this condition, because the exact cause of it is still unknown.
Treatment
Unfortunately, no cure for interstitial cystitis exists. Treatment of interstitial cystitis often includes Kegel exercises, oral medications, medicated bladder rinses, nerve stimulation and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications for pain such as Heparin, Sodium oxychlorosene (Clorpactin WCS-90), Dimethyl sulfoxide or DMSO (Rimso-50), Hydroxyzine (Atarax), Amitriptyline (Elavil), Pentosan (Elmiron).
