Interstitial cystitis

Introduction: Interstitial cystitis

Interstitial cystitis is an odd disease that is difficult to diagnose. It causes pain and irritation to the bladder and pelvic area, and thereby causes various urination symptoms. Its cause is unclear, but may be autoimmune, or perhaps only some cases are autoimmune. Diagnosis of IC is often by ruling out all other possible causes of bladder symptoms. Confirmation of a diagnosis is difficult, and the most compelling evidence for diagnosis is often from surgery and biopsy, rather than any specific urine or blood tests.

Symptoms of Interstitial cystitis

• Urinary urgency
• Urinary frequency
• Pelvic pain
• Bladder pain
• Mild bladder discomfort

See full list of 19 symptoms of Interstitial cystitis

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Interstitial cystitis:

• Bladder & Urinary Health: Home Testing:
  • Home Bladder Tests
  • Home Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Tests
  • Home Cystitis Tests
  • Home Kidney Tests
  • Home Urine Protein Tests (Kidney Function)
  • Home Prostate Cancer Tests
• Kidney Health: Home Testing:
  • Home Microalbumin Tests (Kidney)
  • Home Urine Protein Tests (Kidney)
  • Home Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Tests

Medical Textbooks Online about Interstitial cystitis

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Interstitial cystitis

• Urinalysis
• Urine culture
• Cystoscopy
• Bladder wall biopsy
• Urine cytology

See full list of 10 diagnostic tests for Interstitial cystitis

Wrongly Diagnosed with Interstitial cystitis?

• Misdiagnosis of Interstitial cystitis
• Underlying causes of Interstitial cystitis (possibly wrongly diagnosed)

Misdiagnosis and Interstitial cystitis

Rare type of breast cancer without a lump: There is a less common form of breast cancer called inflammatory breast cancer. Its symptoms can be an inflammation of the...read more »

Interstitial cystitis an under-diagnosed bladder condition: The medical condition of interstitial cystitic is a bladder condition that can be misdiagnosed as various conditions such as overactive bladder or other ...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Interstitial cystitis

Causes of Interstitial cystitis

• Bladder inflammation from radiation therapy

Read more about causes of Interstitial cystitis

More information about causes of Interstitial cystitis:

• Underlying causes of Interstitial cystitis

Treatments for Interstitial cystitis

• Diet changes
  • Avoid alcohol
  • Avoid tomatoes
  • Avoid spices
  • Avoid chocolate

See full list of 29 treatments for Interstitial cystitis

Videos for Interstitial cystitis

Patient Surveys for Interstitial cystitis

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about the symptoms of your Interstitial cystitis
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Reseach about Interstitial cystitis

Visit our research pages for current research about Interstitial cystitis treatments.

Clinical Trials for Interstitial cystitis

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Interstitial cystitis include:

• Events Preceding Interstitial Cystitis (EPIC) - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Phase I/II Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study of Capsaicin for Interstitial Cystitis and Vulvar Vestibulitis - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - capsaicin
• Interstitial Cystitis - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Efficacy of Amitriptyline for Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS) - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Amitriptyline
• URACYST For the Treatment of GAG Deficient Interstitial Cystitis - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)

See full list of 19 Clinical Trials for Interstitial cystitis

Statistics for Interstitial cystitis

• Medical statistics for Interstitial cystitis
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Interstitial cystitis
• Death and Mortality statistics for Interstitial cystitis
• Society statistics for Interstitial cystitis

Types of Interstitial cystitis

• Ulcerative Interstitial Cystitis
• Nonulcerative Interstitial Cystitis
• Autoimmune Interstitial Cystitis

Read more about Types of Interstitial cystitis

Stories from Users Related to Interstitial cystitis

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Interstitial cystitis, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Interstitial cystitis

Interstitial Cystitis: NIDDK (Excerpt)

Interstitial cystitis (IC), one of the chronic pelvic pain disorders, is a condition resulting in recurring discomfort or pain in the bladder and the surrounding pelvic region. (Source: excerpt from Interstitial Cystitis: NIDDK)

Your Urinary System and How It Works: NIDDK (Excerpt)

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic bladder disorder also known as painful bladder syndrome and frequency-urgency-dysuria syndrome. In this disorder, the bladder wall can become inflamed and irritated. The inflammation can lead to scarring and stiffening of the bladder, decreased bladder capacity, pinpoint bleeding, and, in rare cases, ulcers in the bladder lining. The cause of IC is unknown at this time. (Source: excerpt from Your Urinary System and How It Works: NIDDK)

Interstitial Cystitis (Bladder disorder): NWHIC (Excerpt)

Interstitial cystitis, also known as painful bladder syndrome and frequency-urgency-dysuria syndrome, is a complex, chronic disorder that has baffled doctors for as long as it has been recognized." "People with interstitial cystitis (IC) have an inflamed, or irritated, bladder wall. This inflammation can lead to scarring and stiffening of the bladder, decreased bladder capacity, glomerulations (pinpoint bleeding) and, in rare cases, ulcers in the bladder lining." (Source: excerpt from Interstitial Cystitis (Bladder disorder): NWHIC)

Definitions of Interstitial cystitis:

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Interstitial cystitis as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet