What is Interstitial Cystitis?

A condition that can cause bladder pain, pressure in the bladder, and pelvic pain. The bladder is where your urine is stored, and with interstitial cystitis, your bladder may send false signals telling you you have to pee more often than normal.

Symptoms:

• Pelvic Pain
• The need to urinate more often than normal
• Pain during urination
• Painful Intercourse
• Frequent urination

Causes:

• The specific cause is unknown, but scientists believe it could be genetic, caused by a previous infection, or an autoimmune reactions

Treatments:

• Physical Therapy can help reduce pelvic pain
• Pain medication
• Antihistimines to lessen bladder pain
• Doctor may prescribe a medication called Elmiron 
• Nerve Stimulation
• Bladder distension (stretching of the bladder)
• Doctor may medicate the inside of the bladder
• Surgery
• Acupuncture

Statistics:

• About 3.3 million women are diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis
  
• ​That's about 2.7 percent of women

See your doctor if: 

• You are urinating more frequently
• You are experiencing bad pelvic pain

References:

• Mayo Clinic 
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases