Statistics from Bladder Health UK* state that there are over 400,000 people in the UK who have been diagnosed with this debilitating condition.
​
Interstitial Cystitis (IC) is a chronic inflammation of the bladder wall, which can also be diagnosed as Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS). The cause of PBS/IC is not yet known, research continues to find the cause. Indications suggest the condition could be due to a defective bladder lining, or an autoimmune disorder. PBS/IC may resemble a bacterial bladder infection, however short term antibiotics are not effective.
​
How common is PBS/IC?
There are an estimated 400,000 people in UK with PBS/IC, of whom approximately 90% are females and 10% are males.
What are the main symptoms of PBS/IC?
Patients may experience some or all of the following symptoms:
-
Frequency - day and/or night frequency of urination.
-
Urgency - the sensation of having to urinate immediately may also be accompanied by pain, pressure or spasms.
-
Pain - can be in the abdominal, urethral or vaginal area. Pain is also frequently associated with sexual intercourse.
​
The condition is also described by NHS Choices as follows:
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/interstitial-cystitis
​
Interstitial cystitis is a poorly understood bladder condition that causes long-term pelvic pain and problems with urination. It's also known as "painful bladder syndrome" or "bladder pain syndrome".
The condition tends to first affect people in their 30s and 40s, and is much more common in women than men.It can have a significant impact on your lifestyle, work, emotional health and relationships, but a number of different treatments can be tried to help relieve the symptoms.
Have you been diagnosed with IC?
If you have, you know how very hard it can be to live a normal life. You can suffer from a range of symptoms, all of which can be very difficult to cope with.
​
Many of us have been diagnosed with IC in the past, and have endured unpleasant diagnostic tests which have not helped us. We have since been diagnosed with a chronic infection by a specialist who uses a different approach to testing urine. This test is immediate and looks for white blood cells and epithelial cells – both of which can indicate there is an infection present.
​
The members of this campaign are all sufferers, and we understand how you feel. You can email us at contactcutic@gmail.com or you can use the contact form on the contact page.
*Bladder Health is a charity set up specifically to support people with all types of bladder conditions and problems. A helpline and dedicated staff can give you advice and support. They produce a quarterly newsletter for members and on joining, you'll be sent a pack of helpful information, including an IC diet booklet. You can find out more on their website bladderhealthuk.org
​
If you would rather talk to someone about your condition, you can call the Bladder Health helpline on 0121 702 0820.