Painful bladder syndrome (interstitial cystitis) Mate tōngamimi kūiti

The exact causes of painful bladder syndrome are not known but many factors may contribute. These include damage to your bladder lining and problems with your pelvic floor muscles. Your immune system attacking your bladder is another possible cause.

• Pain (particularly when your bladder is full) when weeing (urinating) and during sexual intercourse. You may feel pain in your pelvis and abdomen. Women may also feel pain in their vagina. Men may also feel pain in their scrotum and anus.
• Needing to wee urgently and often.

There is no single test to diagnose painful bladder syndrome. Your healthcare provider will examine you and ask you questions about your general health.

You may have tests such as:

• a urine test to look for signs of infection and any abnormal cells
• an ultrasound or CT scan
• a urodynamic test, which involves filling and emptying your bladder with water while taking pressure measurements
• a cystoscopy, where a flexible tube with a tiny camera is passed into the bladder.

The treatment for painful bladder syndrome is aimed at reducing or getting rid of your symptoms. You may need several treatments or combinations of treatments to relieve your symptoms. These can include:

• physiotherapy for bladder retraining and pelvic floor exercises
• bladder procedures such as having medicines placed in your bladder
• surgery
• talking therapy and counselling to help you cope with your symptoms and their impact on your life.

With painful bladder syndrome, there is no obvious infection in your bladder and antibiotics do not help.

Things that may help improve your symptoms include:

• drinking 6 to 8 cups of fluid, mostly water, a day — spacing out drinking throughout the day is generally better than drinking large amounts at once
• keeping a food and symptom diary – if you notice certain foods or drinks (like citrus fruits, fizzy drinks, caffeinated drinks or alcohol) make symptoms worse, avoid them, but ask for medical advice first
• stopping smoking if you smoke – the chemicals in cigarettes can irritate your bladder
• wearing loose clothing — avoid belts or clothes that put pressure on your tummy
• keeping physically active — try walking, gentle stretching or yoga
• putting an ice-pack or heat pad on your lower tummy
• managing stress – get adequate sleep, eat well and try relaxation techniques such as calming breathing or meditation.

Stress