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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffThe signs and symptoms of interstitial cystitis vary from person to person. If you have interstitial cystitis, your symptoms may also vary over time, periodically flaring in response to common triggers such as menstruation, seasonal allergies, stress and sexual activity.
Interstitial cystitis symptoms include:
- A persistent, urgent need to urinate.
- Frequent urination, often of small amounts, throughout the day and night. People with severe interstitial cystitis may urinate as often as 60 times a day.
- Pain in your pelvis (suprapubic) or between the vagina and anus in women or the scrotum and anus in men (perineal).
- Pelvic pain during sexual intercourse. Men may also experience painful ejaculation.
- Chronic pelvic pain.
Some people affected by interstitial cystitis experience only pain, and some experience only frequent, urgent urination. Most affected people, however, experience both pain and frequent, urgent urination.
Although signs and symptoms of interstitial cystitis may resemble those of a chronic urinary tract infection, urine cultures are usually free of bacteria. However, a worsening of symptoms may occur if a person with interstitial cystitis gets a urinary tract infection.
When to see a doctor
If you're experiencing chronic bladder pain or urinary urgency and frequency, contact your doctor.
- Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC). http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/interstitialcystitis/. Accessed Dec. 9, 2008.
- Fitzgerald MP. Patient information: Painful bladder syndrome and interstitial cystitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 9, 2008.
- Hanno PM. Painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis and related disorders. In: Wein AJ, et al. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/113536197-2/0/1445/13.html?tocnode=54300277&fromURL=13.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-7216-0798-6..50012-1_840. Accessed Dec. 9, 2008.
- Evans RJ, et al. Current diagnosis of interstitial cystitis: An evolving paradigm. Urology. 2007;69(suppl):64.
- Fitzgerald MP. Patient information: Treatment of painful bladder syndrome and interstitial cystitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 9, 2008.
- Moldwin RM, et al. Rational approaches to the treatment of patients with interstitial cystitis. Urology. 2007;69(suppl):73.
