Interstitial cystitis [IC] is a common bladder disorder. It is rarely diagnosed in sufferers by the first 4 doctors they see. It is commoner in women than men [nine women for every man]. It can occur at any age. Most women suggest the diagnosis to their doctors after they read accounts of women with similar symptoms in the newspapers and magazines.

IC typically causes urinary symptoms – frequent urination during the day and night [called urinary frequency and nocturia respectively] and an urgent need to urinate [urinary urgency]. These are classical symptoms in all types of cystitis. Antibiotics are usually started while waiting for the results of urine tests to isolate the offending bug. Frequently the symptoms improve [with and without antibiotics] but the results of the urine test might only show blood but no bugs. Repeated attacks earn the label of recurrent cystitis.

Some women suffer a painful component. This could be a dull ache in the pubic area [suprapubic pain] when the bladder is full, for example, in the morning. On occasions, the pain is described as a feeling of razor blades or broken glass or a red hot poker in the bladder. Some women have painful intercourse; it can occur at penetration [superficial dyspareunia], during or afterwards [deep dyspareunia]. The superficial dyspareunia if ofen related to another condition [vulvar vestibulitis]. It has been suggested that IC and vulvar vestibulitis have a common origin.

Blood in the urine [hamaturia] is a feature of interstitial cystitis. It can be seen as red, rose or only found after urine test [microscopic haematuria].