Interstitial cystitis, also known as painful bladder syndrome, is an inflammation of the bladder walls, causing the bladder’s ability to build up urine, causing a lot of pain and discomfort in the person, in addition to frequent need. urine, although urine is removed in small amounts.
This type of cystitis is more common in women than in men, and can often be stimulated by the menstrual period, for example, and treatment aims to relieve symptoms and use of medications, dietary changes or techniques that promote bladder relaxation.
- Symptoms of interstitial cystitis are quite uncomfortable and are related to bladder inflammation.
- And there may be:.
Symptoms of interstitial cystitis vary from person to person, may vary over time and intensify in the presence of certain factors, such as menstruation, in the case of women, sitting for a long time, stress, physical activity and sex. In addition, in the most severe cases of interstitial cystitis, the patient’s quality of life may be affected, causing, for example, cases of depression.
Diagnosis of interstitial cystitis is made by the urologist, gynecologist or family doctor based on the symptoms presented, urine tests, pelvic exam and cystoscopy, which is an examination that evaluates the urinary tract. This way, your doctor can confirm the diagnosis and indicate the best treatment.
Having interstitial cystitis during pregnancy has no negative effect on a woman’s health or fertility. Some women with interstitial cystitis during pregnancy show an improvement in the symptoms of the disease, while in other women there may be a worsening, with no direct relationship between cystitis and pregnancy.
If the woman has interstitial cystitis and intends to become pregnant, she should talk to her doctor in advance to re-evaluate the medications she uses to control the disease, as they may not be safe for the baby during pregnancy.
The specific cause of interstitial cystitis is not yet known, however, there are some theories that try to explain bladder inflammation, such as an allergy, an alteration of the immune system or a problem with the pelvic floor musculature, for example. In some cases, this type of cystitis may also be associated with another health problem such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus or irritable bowel.
Interstitial cystitis is incurable, so treatment is done to relieve symptoms, and some of the most commonly used options include:
If the above treatment options are not effective and the pain remains very severe, surgery may be needed to increase bladder size or, in very severe cases, to remove the bladder.