Bladder Pain Syndrome (Interstitial Cystitis)
Bladder pain syndrome is a poorly understood condition characterised by pelvic pain and difficulties with urination. Previously known as interstitial cystitis, the condition was thought to be a deep infection in the bladder lining (interstitium) because its symptoms closely resemble those of a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).
Diagnosing bladder pain syndrome can be challenging, as there is no single test that can definitively confirm the condition.
Common symptoms of bladder pain syndrome include:
- Intense pelvic pain (felt in the lower abdomen)
- Urethral pain
- Urinary urgency
- Urinary frequency over a long period of time
Other symptoms of bladder pain syndrome can include:
- Difficulty urinating
- Urinary incontinence
- Blood in the urine (haematuria)
Bladder pain syndrome is more complex than previously thought, and many people living with bladder pain syndrome do not have chronic bladder infections. There is evidence which suggests that the brain may process signals from the pelvic organs differently, leading to tension in the pelvic floor muscles.1
Reference
- Sadler, K. E., & Kolber, B. J. (2016). Urine Trouble: Alterations in Brain Function Associated with Bladder Pain. The Journal of urology, 196(1), 24–32.
