Diagnosis & Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis

There are two types of Interstitial Cystitis. Nonulcerative IC, the most common, typically affects young to middle-aged women. Ulcerative IC is usually diagnosed in middle-aged to older women who have a lower bladder capacity. Because the symptoms of IC are similar to other disorders as well as common urinary tract infections, your doctor must first rule these out, a procedure that can take some time.

Medical tests may include...

  • A urinalysis and urine culture
  • Laboratory examination of prostate secretions
  • Cystoscopy to examine the inside of the bladder and urethra to detect inflammation
  • Biopsy of the bladder wall to rule out bladder cancer and confirm bladder wall inflammation

Treatment
There is no cure for IC, only treatment for the symptoms, these include:

  • Oral medication: Both prescription and over-the-counter
  • Bladder distention: A procedure done under anesthesia in which the bladder is stretched with water
  • Bladder instillation: This is also called a bladder wash. The bladder is filled with a special solution that is held for a short time.
  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS): A weekly procedure in which your doctor places small wires on your lower back or legs; mild electric pulses enter the body for several minutes.
  • Smoking Cessation: Avoid the major known cause of bladder cancer.
  • Exercise: Some patients have benefited from mild exercises.
  • Bladder training: A practice in which you void at scheduled times, using relaxation techniques and other distractions, until you can lengthen the time between urinations.

Surgical treatments include:

  • Implantation of an electrical nerve stimulator to relieve symptoms
  • Laser surgery (only used for the ulcerative form of IC)
  • Urinary diversion: The bladder is removed and your doctor creates a tube from a section of your bowel and places the ureters in this tube. This is then diverted into an opening in the abdomen called a "stoma". The urine is collected in an external bag. Another option is to build an internal pouch from a section of bowel that the patient empties by self catheterization.