Interstitial Cystitis – Painful Bladder Syndrome or IC-PBS

“Painful bladder syndrome” also called “interstitial cystitis” is the chronic condition that causes the symptoms of discomfort or pain in the bladder. These symptoms can vary greatly from person to person in their severity and while this condition can affect men, it is more prevalent among women.

While a definitive cause of this condition has not been found, research suggests that this condition may be caused by an allergy, infection, autoimmune disorder, or inherited. It is also thought that most people who acquire IC/PBS have some type of defect in the epithelium which is the protective lining of the bladder.

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Symptoms of Painful Bladder Syndrome

The symptoms of interstitial cystitis or PBS can vary greatly from one individual to another and some people may experience a remission of their symptoms for a length of time. This condition may also flare up in response to certain triggers that include stress, menstruation, sexual activity, or allergies. The following include the symptoms that are associated with BPS:

– Frequent urination during the day and nighttime that often consists of only small amounts of urine. In severs cases of interstitial cystitis an individual may urinate up to sixty times per day.

– Many individuals with BPS also experience a persistent urgency to urinate.

– Pelvic pain that is chronic.

– Pelvic pain may also be experienced during sexual intercourse and men may also experience pain when ejaculating.

– Women may experience pain between the anus and vagina or in the pelvic area.

– Men may experience pain between the scrotum and anus.

Treatment for Interstitial Cystitis – Painful Bladder Syndrome

There are many types of treatment that can be used for IC/PBS and a patient may have to try several different forms or combination of treatments before finding the one that is right for them. These include oral medications for pain such as ibuprofen (“Motrin”, “Advil”, and others), antihistamines including “Benadryl” and “Claritin” that may relieve the symptoms of frequent urination and the urgency to urinate.

Tricyclic antidepressants may given that can block pain and relax the bladder. “Pentosan” (“Elmiron”) may also be prescribed and is the only medication that has been approved by the “Food and Drug Administration” or “FDA” for the treatment of interstitial cystitis. It is not known exactly how this medication works; however, it is thought to restore the bladders inner surface which keeps certain substances that are present in the urine from irritating it.

Another form of treatment that can be utilized for IC/PBS is nerve stimulation. This type of procedure involves administering electrical impulses that can reduce the symptoms of pain or frequency of urination.

There are surgical procedures that can also be done to treat painful bladder syndrome, however, this is rarely done as these procedures have a potential to cause serious complications. If you are experiencing any type of bladder pain that is chronic, have urinary urgency or frequency, it is essential that you contact your primary care physician for a medical evaluation.