Interstitial Cystitis

Interstitial cystitis can affect people of all ages, backgrounds and racial groups, but more adults than children get IC. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases, IC is more common in women than men.

Severe IC symptoms can affect quality of life and get in the way of daily activities. It’s important to see a medical professional such as a urologist or urogynecologist to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms, such as urinary tract infections.

While there is no cure for IC, the right treatment can help people with IC manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Symptoms of IC manifest differently from person to person. For example, symptoms in women may get worse right before their periods. Stress may also make symptoms more severe.

Over time, the bladder may become scarred or stiff from inflammation. This makes it difficult for the bladder to fill with urine and bladder walls may bleed as it tries to expand.

Typically, common symptoms include bladder pain, discomfort or urinary urgency. Severe symptoms such as painful sexual intercourse, difficulty exercising or travel hesitancy can interfere with daily activities.

What Does IC Pain Feel Like?

Pain with pressure is the most common sign of IC. IC pain feels different for everyone, but the pain often gets worse as the bladder fills. It may be dull, stinging or burning.

In addition to the bladder, IC pain may affect the lower back, lower abdomen or pelvic area. Men may feel pain in the penis, scrotum or testicles and women may feel pain in the vagina or vulva.

IC symptoms can lead to complications and reduced quality of life. Complications are physical and emotional.

Like other people with chronic pain or illness, people with IC may struggle with depression, anxiety and difficulty sleeping.

Currently, no definitive test shows if someone has IC or not. Instead, medical providers diagnose IC based on information on symptoms, a physical and neurological examination and some bladder tests.

The most common misdiagnosis is a urinary tract infection, according to Dr. C. Lowell Parsons, a professor and IC expert at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center.

Physical Exam

In order to rule out other conditions and search for potential causes of symptoms, medical providers will conduct a physical and neurological exam.

For men, the exam will include the rectum, prostate and abdomen. For women, the exam will include the abdomen, rectum and organs in the pelvic area.

Doctors may also check a patient’s mental health because some people with IC have anxiety or other mental disorders occurring along with IC symptoms.

Other Tests

In addition to physical exams, patients will fill out a questionnaire about the level of pain they experience. This is called a baseline pain value.

The provider may also perform a voiding test. This is a test to measure how often you urinate. People with IC urinate more often and have lower volumes of urine each time they void.

Urodynamic Evaluation

This test measures bladder pressure as the bladder is filled with water through a catheter. People with IC have a small capacity for liquid and there may be pain as the bladder is filled.

Cystoscopy

In this test, the health care provider will look inside the bladder with a special tool. While examining the inside of the bladder, the doctor can check for cancer, bladder stones or ulcers. He or she will also be able to take a bladder biopsy. A person with IC symptoms and ulcers most likely has IC.

No one knows exactly what causes IC. Researchers theorize that people with IC have a damaged bladder wall. This allows irritants from urine to leak into the bladder lining, causing pain and discomfort.

A few factors may lead to the development of the condition, according to the Interstitial Cystitis Association. These involve damage to the bladder or its lining.

Does a History of Abuse Cause IC?

The link between IC and sexual and physical abuse is controversial. Studies show mixed results, some show no connection, while others show a high rate of abuse among people with IC. So far, the medical community has not reached a consensus, according to the Interstitial Cystitis Association.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for IC, and it doesn’t go away. It can go into remission for a long time, but symptoms may return.

The best treatment for IC varies from person to person. Sometimes, there may be a little trial and error involved in finding the best IC symptom relief. It’s important that patients be open and honest with their doctors about their experience and symptoms.

Treatment options for IC include lifestyle changes, medications, therapy and surgery.

Lifestyle Changes

Changes in behavior, diet and exercise are the first line of IC therapy. These changes can lessen symptoms.

Some patients see improvement in tenderness and pain after manipulative pelvic floor therapy. These exercises are different from Kegel exercises which are not recommended for people with IC.

While mental and emotional stress doesn’t cause IC, it can make symptoms worse. Patients can get counseling to help with strategies to deal with mental and emotional stress.

FDA-Approved Prescription Medications

If symptoms are still too bothersome after making lifestyle changes, doctors may recommend prescription drugs.

Elmiron (Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium)

Elmiron is the only oral medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat the symptoms of IC. It’s been on the market since 1996. Researchers think the drug works by creating a barrier in the damaged bladder wall and preventing irritants from reaching the lining.

Common Elmiron side effects include stomach pain, nausea and diarrhea. In June 2020, the drug’s maker added a warning to the drug label that long-term use is linked to a degenerative eye disease called pigmentary maculopathy. This condition may get worse even after stopping the drug and may lead to long-term vision loss.

Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)

Doctors administer dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), another FDA-approved IC drug, directly into the bladder through a catheter. Therapy usually lasts six weeks. Researchers think the drug works by blocking inflammation and pain sensations.

Side effects include a garlic-like odor and pain when placing DMSO into the bladder.

Neuromodulation, Injections and Ulcer Cauterization

If drugs and lifestyle changes don’t provide enough relief, neuromodulation, injections and ulcer cauterization are the next options.

Neuromodulation passes electrical impulses into the nerves to help deal with pain. Botox injections may help with pain, but they may cause difficulty passing urine. Research published in 2022 showed an injection combination of heparin and lidocaine is effective for pain. Doctors may cauterize bladder ulcers and the procedure may provide relief for up to a year or more.

Living with IC can be difficult. Because there is no cure for IC, eating well and managing health is an important way to fend off flare-ups. Planning ahead for travel and other activities can make daily life easier as well.

The Interstitial Cystitis Foundation has some tips for eating, exercise and travel.

Helpful Supplements and Foods

Some studies have found some supplements useful for IC symptoms and flares. Some vitamins, minerals and antioxidants may be helpful in conjunction with other medications and treatments.

Make sure you discuss any supplements with your doctor before taking them.

Fitness and Exercise

Exercise is beneficial to the body. For people with IC, having good blood flow to the bladder and having good support muscles for organs is extra important.

Exercising with IC may be challenging, but sticking to more gentle, low-impact exercises can help symptoms. Avoid any jarring movements, heavy straining or excessive stretching. Always make sure to check with your doctor before trying any type of exercise.

Travel Tips

People with IC face travel challenges, especially those with severe disease. Urinary urgency and worries about finding bathrooms make travel difficult. But a little planning can make it easier.

There isn’t much research about how IC affects pregnancy. Available research shows that patients who experienced moderate symptoms before pregnancy did not have an increase in pain. They only had a slight increase in urinary urgency, according to the Interstitial Cystitis Association.

Treating IC during pregnancy can be more difficult because certain medications may not be safe to take while pregnant. Your doctor may recommend discontinuing most medications.

One of the main medications for IC, Elmiron, hasn’t had adequate studies for pregnant women. But in animal studies, it did not impair fertility or harm the fetus.

Gentle exercise and physical therapy may help keep pregnant women with IC comfortable.

Make sure you talk to your doctor if you become pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Your doctor can help you plan for pregnancy and giving birth.