Interstitial CystitisSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Interstitial Cystitis
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a long-term (chronic) problem in which pain, pressure, or burning is present in the bladder. It is often associated with urinary frequency or urgency. It is also called painful bladder syndrome.
Cystitis - interstitial; IC
The bladder is a hollow organ that stores urine. It has a thin layer of muscle inside it. When your bladder fills up with urine, it sends a signal to your brain, telling the muscles to squeeze. Under normal conditions, these signals are not painful. If you have interstitial cystitis, the signals from the bladder are painful and may occur even when the bladder is not full.
The condition most often occurs between ages 20 to 40, although it has been reported in younger people.
Women are 10 times more likely to have IC than men.
The exact cause of this condition is unknown.
Symptoms of IC are chronic. Symptoms tend to come and go with periods of lesser or worse severity. Common symptoms include:
- Bladder pressure or discomfort (mild to severe)
- Urge to urinate often
- Burning pain in the pelvic area
- Pain during intercourse
Many people who have long-term IC may also have other conditions such as endometriosis, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, other chronic pain syndromes, anxiety, or depression.
There is no cure for IC, and there are no standard treatments. Treatment is based on trial and error until you find relief. Results vary from person to person.
DIET AND LIFESTYLE CHANGES
Some people find that making changes in their diet can help control symptoms. Try to avoid foods and beverages that can cause bladder irritation. Stop eating certain foods, one at a time, to see if your symptoms get better. Reduce or stop consuming caffeine, chocolate, carbonated beverages, citrus drinks, and spicy or acidic foods (such as those with high levels of vitamin C).
Other foods that the Interstitial Cystitis Association lists as possibly causing bladder irritation are:
- Aged cheeses
- Alcohol
- Artificial sweeteners
- Fava and lima beans
- Meats that are cured, processed, smoked, canned, aged, or that contain nitrites
- Acidic fruits (except blueberries, honeydew melon, and pears, which are OK.)
- Nuts, except almonds, cashews, and pine nuts
- Onions
- Rye bread
- Seasonings that contain MSG
- Sour cream
- Sourdough bread
- Soy
- Tea
- Tofu
- Tomatoes
- Yogurt
You and your provider should discuss methods you can use for bladder training. These may include training yourself to urinate at specific times or using pelvic floor physical therapy and biofeedback to relieve pelvic floor muscle tension and spasms.
MEDICINES AND PROCEDURES
Combination therapy may include medicines such as:
- Pentosan polysulfate sodium, the only medicine taken by mouth that is approved for treating IC
- Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, to relieve pain and urinary frequency
- Hydroxyzine (Vistaril), an antihistamine that can help reduce inflammation. It can cause sedation as a side effect
Other therapies include:
- Over-filling the bladder with fluid while under general anesthesia, called bladder hydrodistention
- Medicines placed directly into the bladder, including dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), heparin, or lidocaine
- Neuromodulation
- Bladder removal (cystectomy) for extremely difficult cases, which is rarely done
Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital Urology Clinic
Kenneth Peters is a Urologist practicing medicine in Royal Oak, Michigan. He has been practicing medicine for over 35 years. Dr. Peters is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Interstitial Cystitis. He is also highly rated in 18 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Interstitial Cystitis, Frequent or Urgent Urination, Pudendal Neuralgia, Sacral Nerve Stimulation, and Aquablation. Dr. Peters is board certified in American Board Of Urology. Dr. Peters is currently accepting new patients.
Northwell Health Physician Partners Smith Institute For Urology At Garden City
Robert Moldwin, MD, FACS is Director of the Pelvic Pain Center at The Arthur Smith Institute for Urology and serves as physician-in-charge of Urologic Infectious/Inflammatory Diseases. He is Professor of Urology at the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine.A world-renowned leader in the field of pelvic pain, Dr. Moldwin has special interests in varied pain syndromes of the bladder and pelvis. His other clinical and research interests range from urinary incontinence to infectious diseases of the urinary tract. Dr. Moldwin is published in peer-reviewed journals including Cancer, The Journal of Urology, The British Journal of Urology International, The British Medical Journal, Contemporary Urology and Urology. Dr. Moldwin is an expert consultant, lecturing to audiences of physicians, patients, and members of the media on issues such as incontinence, urological health, interstitial cystitis, and pelvic disorders. He currently serves on multiple medical advisory boards, including the Interstitial Cystitis Association, and has been a member of their Board of Directors for over a decade.Dr Moldwin is affiliated with numerous medical societies including the American Urological Association, International Association for the Study of Pain and The Society for Female Urology and Urodynamics. He is past president of the Society for Infections and Inflammation in Urology. He was also co-chairperson for the recently completed Multidisciplinary Approaches to the Study of Chronic Urologic Pelvic Pain (MAPP), a research initiative sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. Dr Moldwin is currently a committee reviewer for the American Urological Association IC/BPS Guidelines and serves as Vice-President for the International Society for the Study of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (ESSIC).After earning his medical degree at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Dr. Moldwin completed his general surgical training and urology residency at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center. He also served as a Valentine Fellow through the New York Academy of Medicine, studying infectious and inflammatory urological diseases in the Department of Urology at Thomas Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. Dr. Moldwin is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Interstitial Cystitis. He is also highly rated in 9 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Interstitial Cystitis, Bacterial Prostatitis, Frequent or Urgent Urination, and Vulvodynia. Dr. Moldwin is board certified in American Board Of Urology.
Urology Clinic
J. Quentin Clemens, MD, has published over 200 peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters. His research focuses on epidemiology and health services research related to benign urologic diseases, health policy, and quality of care assessment in urology. He has had continuous funding from the NIH since 2001. Dr. Clemens is currently the Principal Investigator for two NIH-funded research networks – the University of Michigan LURN Research Site and the University of Michigan MAPP Research Network. He has served as the Chair of the MAPP Network since 2013. His clinical interests include female urinary incontinence, complex fistulas and erosions, lower urinary tract reconstruction using bowel segments, bladder dysfunction due to neurologic disease, video urodynamic evaluation of complex lower urinary tract dysfunction, and interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome. Dr. Clemens is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Interstitial Cystitis. He is also highly rated in 16 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Interstitial Cystitis, Frequent or Urgent Urination, Neurogenic Bladder, Sacral Nerve Stimulation, and Endoscopy. Dr. Clemens is board certified in Urology and Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surg.
More information and support for people with interstitial cystitis and their families can be found at:
Interstitial Cystitis Association: www.ichelp.org/get-involved/join-the-ic-community/ and others.
Treatment results vary. Some people respond well to simple treatments and dietary changes. Others may require extensive treatments or surgery.
Contact your provider if you have symptoms of IC. Be sure to mention that you suspect this disorder. It is not always easily recognized or diagnosed. It is often confused with having repeated urinary tract infection.
Summary: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Neovasculgen in interstitial cystitis and the prevention of secondary bladder shrinkage with a decrease in its volume.
Summary: The EPPIC (Easing Pelvic Pain Interventions Clinical Research Program) study evaluates an ultra-brief, 4 session cognitive behavioral pain treatment transdiagnostic in design for urologic chronic pain syndrome (UCPPS) with clinical and practical advantages over existing behavioral therapies whose length and focus limits their adoption by clinicians and coverage for mechanistically similar comorbid...
Published Date: April 01, 2025
Published By: Kelly L. Stratton, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, Department of Urology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Clemens JQ, Erickson DR, Varela NP, Lai HH. Diagnosis and treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. J Urol. 2022;208(1):34-42. PMID: 35536143 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35536143/.
Grochmal SA. Office testing and treatment options for interstitial cystitis (painful bladder syndrome). In: Fowler GC, ed. Pfenninger and Fowler's Procedures for Primary Care. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 98.
Lentz GM, Miller JL. Lower urinary tract function and disorders: physiology of micturition, voiding dysfunction, urinary incontinence, urinary tract infections, and painful bladder syndrome. In: Gershenson DM, Lentz GM, Valea FA, Lobo RA, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 21.
Moldwin RM, Hanno PM. Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and related disorders. In: Partin AW, Dmochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 57.