Interstitial Cystitis
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic inflammation of the bladder wall. It affects as many as one million women in this country. Because its causes are unknown, interstitial cystitis is often misdiagnosed or mistreated as a stress-related or psychosomatic problem. But it is very real, especially to those women who experience its symptoms:
- Frequent urination
- The urge to urinate immediately, sometimes accompanied by pain, pressure or spasms
- Pain in lower abdomen, urethra or vagina
- Painful sexual intercourse
For many interstitial cystitis patients, getting a proper diagnosis is difficult. Other disorders have similar symptoms. If you experience the symptoms listed above, you should know that most interstitial cystitis patients can be helped. At Atlantic Urogynecology in Suffolk, Virginia, Dr. Walshe uses a detailed diagnostic process to determine the best options for alleviating IC’s symptoms.