Definitions

Painful bladder syndrome

Treatments

Antibiotics don't help painful bladder syndrome. Other types of medications, physical therapy, and biofeedback may help symptoms.

Description

An ongoing condition that causes bladder pressure and pain.

Overview

The exact cause of painful bladder syndrome, often called interstitial cystitis, is not known. It involves irritation and redness, called inflammation, of the bladder walls.

Symptoms

Symptoms include bladder and pelvic pain or pressure and a need to urinate often. Pain ranges from mild to severe. There might be pain when the bladder fills and relief after urinating.

Treatment

There's no simple treatment for painful bladder syndrome. Some types of medicines, physical therapy and procedures such as nerve stimulation may help symptoms.