INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS (IC)
Interstitial cystitis is a chronic condition characterized by a pain or discomfort in the bladder as well as a need
for frequent or urgent urination.
- Also commonly referred to as bladder pain syndrome, interstitial cystitis is a chronic problem caused by inflammation or irritation of the bladder wall.
- The bladder is a hollow, triangular shaped, muscular chamber in the lower abdomen that stores urine.
- With time, interstitial cystitis can cause damage to the bladder wall.
- Chronic inflammation or irritation may result in scarring and stiffening of the bladder, decreasing the amount of urine the bladder can hold.
- The pain accompanied by interstitial cystitis can be mild or severe.
- It can affect anybody of any age but is more common among women.
- The disease can affect and have a long-lasting impact on the quality of life including social life and the ability to work. You may have to pee as many as over 50 times a day.
CAUSES
No one is certain about what causes interstitial cystitis, but research suggests that many factors contribute. This may include:
- A defect in the layer that protects the bladder wall from toxic contents in the urine. This defect may allow substances in the urine to enter the bladder wall where they may trigger the condition.
- Increased activation of sensory nerves in the bladder wall.
- Autoimmune reaction
- Infection or allergy
- Heredity
SYMPTOMS
Symptoms vary from person to person. Symptoms may include:
- Chronic pelvic pain that is worsened with the consumption of certain foods or beverages
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- An urgent and frequent need to urinate
- Frequent daytime and night urination usually of small amounts, up to about 60 times
- Bladder pressure and pain that gets worse as the bladder refills
- For men, pain in the scrotum, and anus.
- For women, pain in the vulva, or the anus.
DIAGNOSIS
The symptoms of interstitial cystitis are similar to other urinary system disorder; therefore, doctor must exclude other conditions such as urinary tract infection, kidney stones, endometriosis, or bladder cancer before making a diagnosis.
The following may be helpful in diagnosing cystitis:
Pelvic exam, your external genitals, vagina, and cervix are examined. The doctor may also feel your abdomen to assess your internal pelvic organs.
Urinalysis and urine culture, these tests can detect and identify common bacteria in the urine that may be causing your symptoms. You will be asked to pee in a cup and pee will be sent to a lab for analysis.
Cystoscopy, a thin tube with a camera (cystoscope) is inserted through the urethra to show the lining of the bladder.
Biopsy, during cystoscopy, a sample of tissue from the bladder and urethra is removed for examination under a microscope.
Potassium sensitivity test, solutions of water and potassium chloride are instilled into your bladder, once at a time. The pain and urgency you feel after each solution is instilled may indicate the presence of interstitial cystitis. If you feel more pain or urgency with the potassium solution as compared with the water solution, diagnosis is confirmed. People with normal bladder can’t tell the difference between the two solutions.
Laboratory examination of prostatic secretions, in men, a sample of prostatic fluid is examined under the microscope for signs of infections.
TREATMENT
Treatment that may improve the signs and symptoms include:
Oral medications
Bladder distention to stretch the bladder capacity. This reduces frequent urination and may help with pain.
Bladder Instillation
Surgery may be required if other treatments fail, and symptoms affect the quality of life