Interstitial Cystitis

Alternative names:

cystitis - interstitial

Definition:

A bladder condition that produces the same symptoms as a bladder infection but with no obvious cause.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Interstitial cystitis is an inflammation of the tissues of the bladder wall. However, there is no known cause for the inflammation (such as an infection).

Symptoms of interstitial cystitis include the need to urinate frequently; a feeling of urgent need to urinate; and urinary discomfort including pain, burning, or cramping. Pain may also accompany sexual intercourse. Unlike bacterial cystitis, which is an actual infection of the bladder, there is no obvious cause for interstitial cystitis.

The condition is neither well-recognized nor easily diagnosed. There are approximately 50,000 cases diagnosed each year in the United States, although it is estimated that there may be as many as half-a-million affected individuals.

Interstitial cystitis affects mostly women (9 women are affected for every 1 man) and generally occurs after age 40. For the average person with interstitial cystitis, there is a 4 year delay between the time the first symptoms occur and the condition is diagnosed. This demonstrates both the difficulty of diagnosis and how infrequently this condition is suspected. Many physicians still mistakenly consider interstitial cystitis a psychological problem.