- Main symptoms
- What causes interstitial cystitis
- How the treatment is done
- Can interstitial cystitis harm pregnancy?
Interstitial cystitis, also known as Painful Bladder Syndrome, is a chronic inflammation of the bladder walls that causes it to thicken and decrease the capacity of the bladder to accumulate urine.
Cystitis is more common in women than in men and treatment aims to alleviate symptoms, and the use of medications, changes in diet or techniques that promote bladder relaxation may be indicated.
Main symptoms
The cause of chronic interstitial cystitis is still unknown and its symptoms can be:
- Pain or discomfort that worsens with a full bladder; Frequent urge to urinate; Pain and tenderness of the genital area; Pain during ejaculation in men; Severe pain during menstruation; Pain during sexual intercourse.
The symptoms of interstitial cystitis vary from person to person and can vary over time. In the most severe cases of interstitial cystitis, the patient's quality of life can be affected, causing cases of depression, for example.
The diagnosis of interstitial cystitis is made by the doctor based on the symptoms presented, urinalysis, pelvic examination and cystoscopy, which is an examination that assesses the urinary tract. Thus, the doctor will be able to confirm the diagnosis and indicate the best treatment.
What causes interstitial cystitis
The specific cause of interstitial cystitis is not yet known, however, there are some theories that try to explain bladder inflammation, such as the existence of an allergy, an alteration of the immune system or a problem with the pelvic floor muscles, for example. example.
In some cases, this type of cystitis may also be associated with another health problem such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus or irritable bowel.
How the treatment is done
Interstitial cystitis has no cure, so treatment is done with the aim of relieving symptoms, and some of the most used options include:
- Hydrodistension of the bladder, in which the doctor slowly increases the bladder by filling it with liquid; Bladder training, using techniques to relax the bladder; Bladder instillation, in which drugs such as hyaluronic acid or BCG are introduced to help reduce the urge to urinate; Use of medications such as antihistamine, amitriptyline antidepressant or cyclosporine; Changes in the diet, eliminating the consumption of coffee, soft drinks and chocolate; Quit smoking.
If the previous treatment options are not effective and the pain remains very severe, it may be necessary to resort to surgery to increase the size of the bladder or, in very severe cases, to remove the bladder.
Can interstitial cystitis harm pregnancy?
Having interstitial cystitis during pregnancy has no negative effects on the baby's health or on the woman's fertility. Some women with interstitial cystitis during pregnancy show improvement in the symptoms of the disease, while in other women there may be worsening, with no direct relationship between cystitis and pregnancy.
If the woman has interstitial cystitis and intends to become pregnant, she should speak to the doctor in advance to reassess the medications she is using to control the disease as they may not be safe for the baby during pregnancy.
