About Interstitial Cystitis
Interstitial cystitis (also known as painful bladder syndrome) is a chronic condition that can severely impact quality of life. With its symptoms of painful and frequent urination, the discomfort that interstitial cystitis causes can be unrelenting.
People with interstitial cystitis have weakened bladder walls. This leads to bladder ulcers, decreased bladder capacity, and scarring. Women are nearly ten times more likely to suffer from interstitial cystitis than men.
Dr. Michael Safir, as a well-known Los Angeles urologist, treats interstitial cystitis in a number of ways, but specializes in surgical approaches to offer more permanent relief from the symptoms of interstitial cystitis.
Women are nearly ten times more likely to suffer from interstitial cystitis than men.
Interstitial Cystitis Causes
While nobody knows the exact cause of interstitial cystitis, researchers have a much clearer picture of the condition than they did even a few years ago. Possible causes include:
- Autoimmune response to bladder infection
- Genetics
- A substance in the urine of people suffering from interstitial cystitis that causes
the cells in the bladder wall to degrade over time.
Interstitial Cystitis Symptoms
Common interstitial cystitis symptoms include:
- Urinary frequency (needing to urinate very often)
- Urinary urgency (the sensation of needing to urinate immediately)
- Pelvic pain
- Painful intercourse
- In men, pain in the prostate region