Did you know that over 4 million people in the US are suffering from a condition known as interstitial cystitis?
Also known as painful bladder syndrome, interstitial cystitis is a painful disorder described as a long-term inflammation of the bladder wall. This condition is usually misdiagnosed as UTI (urinary tract infection). In fact, some patients go for years with an incorrect diagnosis.
Did you know that an average adult urinates seven times a day at the most? Add to that, he rarely gets up at night to go to the toilet as well. But for a person with interstitial cystitis, he may have to stay close to the bathroom for the better part of the day. In severe cases, he may urinate as many as 60 times in a 24-hour period, not to mention several nightly trips to the bathroom.
Interstitial cystitis usually appears between the ages of 30 and 40. Women are ten times more prone to acquiring this disorder compared to men.
Furthermore, inflammation triggered by this condition causes the bladder to stiffen. In about 90 percent of all cases of interstitial cystitis, bleeding is visible in the bladder lining. In addition, ulcers or sores are present in about 5 percent to 10 percent of all cases.
One of the common indicators of interstitial cystitis is pain and discomfort around the bladder and pelvic regions. For women, it becomes more painful during menstruation.
Interstitial cystitis may also become a hindrance to sexual activity. For women, it causes painful intercourse while men may experience erectile dysfunction and painful ejaculation.
