Interstitial Cystitis

What is interstitial cystitis?

Interstitial cystitis is a painful bladder that involves inflammation and irritation of the organ. This makes your bladder more sensitive and can cause you to feel like you need to urinate even when you don’t. 

The condition is more common in women than men, and its symptoms can severely impact your quality of life. Turning Point Women’s Center PA provides treatment based on the severity of your symptoms and the underlying cause. 

What are the symptoms of interstitial cystitis?

The symptoms of interstitial cystitis vary among patients. Pelvic pain is the most common symptom, but other possible symptoms include:

• Pain in the space between your vagina and anus
• Persistent urge to urinate
• Frequent urination (up to 60 times a day)
• Similar symptoms to a urinary tract infection

Interstitial cystitis isn’t an infection, so it won’t respond to antibiotics like a urinary tract infection would, despite having similar symptoms. Dr. Gentry uses multiple strategies to diagnose the condition, including pelvic exams, urine tests, or a procedure called cystoscopy, so you get the right treatment.

What causes interstitial cystitis?

Experts aren’t sure what causes interstitial cystitis, but it seems to be associated with a few other chronic medical conditions. If you have interstitial cystitis, you might also have:

• An autoimmune disease
• Vascular disease
• Bladder lining defects
• Allergies
• Unidentified infections

There are likely multiple factors contributing to your interstitial cystitis, including your own genetics. 

What are my options for interstitial cystitis treatment?

At Turning Point Women’s Center PA, Dr. Gentry provides individualized evaluations and care for interstitial cystitis to minimize your symptoms. While there’s no single treatment that gets rid of interstitial cystitis symptoms, a combination of strategies can improve your quality of life. You might need to try a few approaches before experiencing positive results. 

Common treatments for interstitial cystitis include:

• Oral medications
• Bladder instillation medications
• Bladder distention (stretching the organ with water)
• Nerve stimulation
• Surgery
• Bladder training
• Diet changes

Typically, Turning Point Women’s Center PA recommends the least invasive treatments first. You may be able to improve your condition with as little as a combination of physical therapy and changes to your eating habits. 

For more information on interstitial cystitis and its treatments, call Turning Point Women’s Center PA or schedule an appointment online today.