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The symptoms of interstitial cystitis vary greatly from one person to another but have some similarities to those of urinary tract infection. These symptoms include decreased bladder capacity, an urgent need to urinate frequently day and night, feelings of pressure, pain, and tenderness around the bladder, pelvis, and perineum. Perineum is the area between the anus and vagina, or anus and scrotum, which may increase as the bladder fills and decrease as it empties. Patients are also complaining about painful sexual intercourse and discomfort or pain in the penis and scrotum. Most people suffering from interstitial cystitis have both urinary frequency and pelvic pain, although these symptoms may also occur singly or in any combination with others. In most women with interstitial cystitis, symptoms usually worsen around the time of their periods. As with many other illnesses, stress also may intensify the symptoms. However, stress does not cause them. The symptoms usually have a slow onset, and urinary frequency is erly symptom.
Diagnosis of interstitial cystitis
Because the symptoms of interstitial cystitis are similar to those of other disorders of the urinary system and because there is no definitive test to identify interstitial cystitis, doctors must exclude other conditions before making exact diagnosis. Medical tests that help identify other conditions include a urinalysis, urine culture, cystoscopy, biopsy of bladder wall and, in men, laboratory examination of prostatic secretions. Physical examination of an individual with interstitial cystitis may reveal tenderness of the bladder either when pushing on the abdomen over the bladder or during the pelvic examination in women. Laboratory tests should also be done to diagnose interstitial cystitis.
Treatment of interstitial cystitis?
The principal type of oral medication is the heparinoid drug pentosan polysulfate sodium. PPS is chemically similar to the substance that lines the bladder, and it is believed that PPS assists in the repair or restoration of the lining tissues in bladder. Other oral medications that may be used to treat interstitial cystitis along with PPS include antidepressants of tricyclic group. This is not due to a belief that interstitial cystitis is a psychological condition. It is rather due to the fact that tricyclic antidepressants can help reduce the hyper-activation of nerves within the bladder wall. Oral antihistamines may also be prescribed to help reduce allergy symptoms. that may be worsening the patient’s interstitial cystitis. Beside this, bladder distension sometimes is used for therapy of interstitial cystitis. Bladder distension helps reduce symptoms in approximately 20-30% of people with problem called interstitial cystitis.