Interstitial cystitis
What is interstitial cystitis?
Cystitis is the inflammation of the bladder. The term interstitial cystitis (also known as painful bladder syndrome) is used to designate cases that are considered a chronic condition.
What are the symptoms of interstitial cystitis?
People affected by cystitis have the bladder wall completely swollen and is painful, they can even expel blood when urinating. This is due to scars or stiffness that are created in the bladder, which causes the inability to enlarge when it is filled with urine. Therefore, the symptoms usually include a strong urge to urinate, urinary frequency, and pain during sexual intercourse.
What are the causes of interstitial cystitis?
The exact cause of these infections are unknown at the moment, although it is known that it is not a bacterial or viral infection. Interstitial cystitis is much more common in women than in men, as it usually happens from the age of 20 to 30 and it is quite common to develop after having sex or during the menopause.
Can interstitial cystitis be prevented?
The main way to prevent chronic cystitis is to prevent cystitis from occurring. Therefore, some guidelines to prevent or avoid cystitis are:
- Drink lots of water and fluids
- Urinate often
- Maintain adecuate daily genital hygiene
- Shower instead of bathing
- Do not use aerosols or deodorants in the genital area
What is the treatment used for interstitial cystitis?
There is no permanent cure for interstitial cystitis, although the initial treatment of cystitis is usually a course of antibiotics. In interstitial cystitis treatments are usually focused on improving the symptoms: diet, exercises to control the bladder, medication, physiotherapy, etc.
Bacterial and interstitial cystitis: causes, symptoms and treatment
By Mr Keng Jin Ng
2021-07-30
Leading consultant urological surgeon Mr Keng Jin Ng, discusses the causes and symptoms of both bacterial and interstitial cystitis and how to prevent recurring infection. See more
What is interstitial cystitis? Ask an expert!
By Miss Jean McDonald
2021-07-29
What does it mean if it hurts or burns when you pee? Do you need to go to the toilet more often than usual? Leading female urologist Miss Jean McDonald is here to explain interstitial cystitis (IC) and how it differs from a urinary tract infection. See more
What causes chronic pelvic pain syndrome in women?
By Mr Parijat Bhattacharjee
2021-07-28
Chronic pelvic pain syndrome is debilitating pain that some women suffer from. It can be during the menstrual cycle, but not exclusively, and generally, it will last for more than six months. Mr Parijat Bhattacharjee, an expert gynaecologist, explains what causes chronic pelvic pain syndrome and how it may be managed. See more
Interstitial cystitis: your guide to painful bladder syndrome
By Mr Mohammed Belal
2021-07-23
Bladder pain can strike for a number of reasons. One condition that may hit people in their 30s or 40s is interstitial cystitis, or painful bladder syndrome. We talked to expert urologist Mr Mohammed Belal, who gave us a quick guide to interstitial cystitis. See more
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Mr Ranjan Thilagarajah
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Guy’s and St Thomas’ Private Healthcare
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