Interstitial cystitis (IC)

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Female urinary tract

Male urinary tract

Cystitis - interstitial; IC

• Urinary frequency (up to 60 times a day in severe cases)
• Urinary urgency
• Urinary discomfort
• Pain during intercourse
• Pelvic pain

Diagnosis is made by ruling out other causes. Urine analysis, urine culture, and urine cytology tests are essential.

Usually, cystoscopy (endoscopy of bladder) and bladder biopsy are performed. The characteristic finding of interstitial cystitis during cystoscopy is pinpoint bleeding in the lining of the bladder or ulcers on the bladder wall. 

In IC, the bladder does not hold as much urine as a normal bladder typically does.

A procedure called video urodynamics can reveal how much urine needs to be in the bladder before the patient feels the need to urinate.

Review Date: 05/03/2006
Reviewed By: Neil D. Sherman, MD, Urologist, Essex County, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.