Understanding Interstitial Cystitis (IC) /Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS)
Author: Celina
Interstitial Cystitis (IC) or Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS) isn’t just about frequent trips to the bathroom. It’s a condition that involves bladder pain, pressure, and discomfort, often with a constant urgency to urinate. Imagine needing to go 20 times a day, even waking up during the night. The struggle is real, and 9 out of 10 people with IC are women.
What is it like living with IC/PBS?
That constant, urgent need to pee (even though you just went).
Pelvic pain that feels like pressure in the bladder, pelvis, and perineum (yep, that space between your vagina and anus).
It can hurt when your bladder fills up but feels better when it empties (temporarily).
Pain during sex? Unfortunately, that’s part of it too.
And the diagnosis isn’t always straightforward. You need:
Pain or discomfort in your pelvic area that’s related to bladder filling
Frequent urination (8+ times a day), but not because you’re afraid of leaking — it’s to avoid the pain.
These symptoms need to stick around for 3+ months, with no sign of infection or disease.
What can you do?
There’s no one-size-fits-all treatment for IC/PBS, but here’s what could help:
Lifestyle changes like ditching smoking and alcohol.
Diet tweaks (goodbye caffeine, coffee, spicy food).
Manage constipation to ease pelvic pressure.
Physiotherapy can make a huge difference. IC is often linked to a tight pelvic floor, which gets worse as the bladder fills. Physios can teach you release techniques for those overactive pelvic floor muscles and help with bladder training. It’s about learning how to space out those bathroom trips.
Medications to help manage the pain, urgency, and frequency.
Because there’s no single treatment that works for everyone, it’s often a combination of these options that bring relief. Symptom management may take time, but you don’t have to tackle this alone.
Living with IC/PBS doesn’t mean you’re stuck with the symptoms forever. With the right treatment plan, things can get better!
Reference:
International Painful Bladder Foundation, Fact Sheet, Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/PBS), Hypersensitive bladder, (HSB), Hunner Lesion (HL)