Interstitial Cystitis

What is Interstitial Cystitis?

Interstitial Cystitis is a medical condition that affects the bladder. The cause is unknown; however, it does appear to run in families. There are a number of common signs and symptoms that affect people with this disease. Some of the most common symptoms include:

• urinary urgency (the feeling of needing to urinate urgently)

• urinary frequency (having to urinate more often)

• pain with sexual intercourse 

 

Because of these symptoms, individuals with this condition are often told that they have a urinary tract infection (UTI); however, a urine culture will return as negative. Often, individuals with this condition will develop complications, such as depression, which lead to an overall lower quality of life. Individuals with Interstitial Cystitis might experience other conditions including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and fibromyalgia, which can further worsen their quality of life.