Posted on: 31 Jan 2025

Any chronic health issue can have a huge impact on your quality of life. When it comes to chronic pain, you may be so tired of going to doctor after doctor, trying to find answers that will help get your life back on track. It can sometimes be hard to find the right health care team who specializes in your condition. And if your symptoms are similar to other common conditions, that can make it even harder and more frustrating to get diagnosed.
One of these chronic health issues that involves the bladder is called Interstitial Cystitis, or Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS). It is a feeling of pain and pressure in the bladder area. Along with this pain are lower urinary tract symptoms which have lasted for more than six weeks, without having an infection or other clear causes.
Symptoms range from mild to severe. For some patients the symptoms may come and go, and for others they don't go away. IC/BPS is not an infection, but it may feel like a urinary tract or bladder infection. Women with IC/BPS may feel pain when having sex. The more severe cases of IC/BPS can affect your life and your loved ones. Some people with IC/BPS have other health issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and other pain syndromes.
IC/BPS symptoms can get in the way of your social life, work life, exercise and sleep. It can affect your relationships with your spouse, family and friends. Overall, this condition can cause a great deal of distress. Experts don’t know exactly what causes IC/BPS, but the good news is that there are treatments that may help improve your quality of life once diagnosed.
The below resources can be used to help you learn more about IC/BPS and talking with your health care team.
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