Signs and symptoms
... The signs and symptoms vary from person to person. They can also vary over time in one person. For instance, they can worsen during menstruation in premenopausal women. Signs and symptoms include: A p...

Causes
... Your bladder is a hollow, muscular, balloon-shaped organ that stores urine until you''re ready to empty it. In a healthy urinary system, the bladder expands until it''s full. In an adult, that''s abou...

Risk factors
... These factors are associated with a higher risk of interstitial cystitis: Sex. Women receive a diagnosis of interstitial cystitis far more often than men or children do. Men can have nearly identical ...

When to seek medical advice
... If you''re experiencing any of the signs or symptoms of chronic bladder pain, contact your doctor.

Screening and diagnosis
... It can be difficult to detect interstitial cystitis because its signs and symptoms resemble those of many other disorders. On average, people with interstitial cystitis have experienced symptoms for f...