Interstitial Cystitis(IC) also known as painful bladder syndrome is caused due to inflammation of the bladder walls. As the name suggest, cystitis means swelling of the bladder which causes lot of pain and discomfort. According to the survey, more than 1 million people have been affected from this syndrome. Painful bladder syndrome is common in both sexes but women are more susceptible to this disease.

Interstitial Cystitis is a challenging disease and it is difficult to define the exact cause of this disease. It may cause due to bacterial infection, due to abnormalities in the bacterial lining that allows toxic substances to irritate the bladder, nerve damage or some kind of auto-immune disease may be responsible for IC/BPS. Evidence shows that glycosaminoglycan or GAG layer i.e. protective lining of the bladder get damaged in IC patients leading to painful symptoms.

People suffering from Interstitial Cystitis have painful bladder symptoms. The symptoms may be mild to severe and differs from person to person. Pain may intensify as bladder fills or empties. The condition of women suffering from this disorder gets worse during menstruation and especially during sexual intercourse. Some of the common symptoms include:

• Frequent urination or urgency to urinate
• Intense Pain in lower abdomen and pelvic area
• Tenderness in genital and pelvic area
• Decreased bladder capacity
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Bleeding in the bladder

Certain health conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, systemic lupus erythematous, allergies, endometriosis, and fibromyalgia is common in people suffering from interstitial cystitis. However, there is no evidence that any of these conditions caused due to IC/BPS.

Unfortunately, there is no proven treatment for Interstitial Cystitis because the exact cause is still unknown. Therefore, treatment for IC aimed at relieving the symptoms of disease. Usually doctor suggests to avoid spicy, sugary or carbonated food as these foods intensify the symptoms of IC. Bladder training including pelvic exercise is also helpful. Physical and herbal bladder training is also useful for relieving the bladder infection symptoms. In severe case, surgical treatment is also recommended by the doctor for the treatment of Interstitial Cystitis.