What is Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome?
Interstitial Cystitis (IC), also known as Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS), is a serious medical condition which affects the bladder, urinary system and pelvic region. Anyone of any age can develop IC, and while no two patients experience IC exactly the same, commonly occurring symptoms include urinary frequency and urgency, intense bladder, urethral and pelvic pain; a sharp burning sensation while voiding, night time voiding (nocturia), and abdominal bloating. Though its symptoms may sometimes mirror those of a urinary tract/bladder infection, IC is not (currently found to be) an infection. It is a chronic, often extremely painful, condition of no definitively known cause/source. No one treatment has thus far proven to be a "cure" for IC, but many treatment options and IC management strategies are now available.