Also called: Also called: IC, Painful bladder syndrome, PBS
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a condition that causes discomfort or pain in the bladder and abdomen. It is far more common in women than in men. The symptoms vary from case to case. Some people have an urgent or frequent need to urinate. Women's symptoms often get worse during their periods. They may also have pain with sexual intercourse.
Many scientists believe IC is actually several diseases. Many use the term painful bladder syndrome (PBS) to describe urinary pain for which they cannot find a cause. There is no one test to tell if you have IC/PBS. Doctors often run tests to rule out other possible causes of symptoms. There is no cure for IC/PBS, but treatments can help most people feel better. They include distending, or inflating, the bladder; bathing the inside of the bladder with a medicine solution; oral medicines and in rare cases, surgery.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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Interstitial Cystitis(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/gen-health/717.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/women/gen-health/717.printerview.html
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What I Need to Know about Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/interstitialcystitis_ez/
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Interstitial Cystitis(American Urological Association) - http://urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=03&topic=210
Also available in Spanish http://urologyhealth.org/espanol/espanol.cfm?topic=210
- Interstitial Cystitis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/interstitial-cystitis/DS00497/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Interstitial Cystitis / Painful Bladder Syndrome(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/interstitialcystitis/
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Cystoscopy and Ureteroscopy(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/cystoscopy/
- Interstitial Cystitis: Comprehensive Treatment Plan(Interstitial Cystitis Association) - http://www.ichelp.org/PatientInformation/TreatmentOptions/ICATreatmentGuidelines/tabid/85/Default.aspx
- IC and Diet(Interstitial Cystitis Association) - http://www.ichelp.org/PatientInformation/TreatmentOptions/Brochures/ICandDiet/tabid/247/Default.aspx
- Bladder Retraining Program(Interstitial Cystitis Association) - http://www.ichelp.org/PatientInformation/TreatmentOptions/FactSheets/ICandBladderRetrainingProgram/tabid/220/Default.aspx
- IC and Constipation(Interstitial Cystitis Association) - http://www.ichelp.org/Default.aspx?tabid=230
- IC and Self-Help(Interstitial Cystitis Association) - http://www.ichelp.org/PatientInformation/TreatmentOptions/Brochures/ICandSelfHelp/tabid/248/Default.aspx
- IC and Other Diseases(Interstitial Cystitis Association) - http://www.ichelp.org/Default.aspx?tabid=303
- IC and Sexuality(Interstitial Cystitis Association) - http://www.ichelp.org/PatientInformation/TreatmentOptions/Brochures/ICandSexuality/tabid/249/Default.aspx
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Your Urinary System and How It Works(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/yoururinary/
- Losing Your Current Healthcare Coverage?(Interstitial Cystitis Association) - http://www.ichelp.org/PatientInformation/DisabilityIssues/LosingYourCurrentHealthcareCoverage/tabid/336/Default.aspx
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Cystitis(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Cystitis%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Cystitis, Interstitial(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Cystitis,+Interstitial%22
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Structure-activity relationship studies for the peptide portion of the bladder... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18788730&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome for the primary care physician. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18700065&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Mental health diagnoses in patients with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18707716&tool=MedlinePlus
- Interstitial Cystitis -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=cystitis,interstitial[majr]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Interstitial Cystitis Terminology Guide(Interstitial Cystitis Association) - http://www.ichelp.org/Default.aspx?tabid=288
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Urologic Diseases Dictionary(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/udictionary/
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Directory of Kidney and Urologic Diseases Organizations(National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/resources/organizations.htm
- Find a Urologist(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/find_urologist/
- Interstitial Cystitis Association - http://www.ichelp.org/
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/
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National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/
- Interstitial Cystitis: Social Security Disability Insurance(Interstitial Cystitis Association) - http://www.ichelp.org/PatientInformation/TreatmentOptions/FactSheets/SocialSecurityDisabilityInsurance/tabid/307/Default.aspx
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Kidney and Urologic Diseases Statistics for the United States(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/kustats/
- IC and Children(Interstitial Cystitis Association) - http://www.ichelp.org/Default.aspx?tabid=231
- Bladder Diseases - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bladderdiseases.html
- Kidneys and Urinary System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/kidneysandurinarysystem.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Interstitial Cystitis is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/