Faces of IC
The Healthy Body, Healthy Mind
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1. Understand your symptoms
2. Take and print the IC self-test
3. Schedule a specific doctor visit
4. Prepare for your visit
5. Track your symptoms
   

Pelvic or abdominal pain

Pain during or after sexual intercourse

Need to urinate frequently during the day, perhaps every hour

Urge to urinate, even though you have emptied your bladder

Waking during sleep to urinate

Pain 1 week before menstruation

Other

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IC Treatments
  Effective Treatments for IC are Available

If you are diagnosed with interstitial cystitis (IC), your physician should discuss all of the treatment options currently available to treat IC. These options include:

Oral Therapy (medication that you take by mouth)

Oral therapy for interstitial cystitis is a convenient treatment option. For more information on a prescription medicine for IC, click here.

Intravesical Therapy

With intravesical therapy, medication is instilled directly into the bladder.

In intravesical therapy for IC, the bladder is filled with a solution that is held for varying periods of time, ranging from 15 to 60 minutes, before it is then emptied. This procedure is usually conducted in your doctor's office or a hospital setting, and usually with general anesthesia.

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is the only aproved drug for intravesical use in the United States. This medication is known for its strong anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.

(DMSO) is generally administered on a weekly basis for 6 to 8 weeks. On this therapy, you may find that your symptoms temporarily worsen after the first few treatments, and that the full treatment effect may not be seen for several weeks. Although you may experience a remission of your symptoms with (DMSO) instillations, you may not continue to get the same relief over time. A bothersome side effect for some patients is a strong garlic-like taste and odor on the breath and skin that is difficult to mask and may last up to 72 hours after treatment.

Lifestyle Changes and Other Tips

In addition to traditional prescribed treatments for IC, some IC patients may find that they experience some degree of temporary symptom relief by making certain lifestyle changes. Ask your healthcare professional if any of these recommendations may be appropriate for you on an ongoing basis or during times of symptom flare up:

  • Stress-reduction techniques
  • Eliminating foods from your diet that may make your symptoms worse. For more information click here :Dietary Guidelines for Chronic Pelvic Pain in the Bladder / Interstitial Cystitis.
  • Using warm or cold compresses on the lower abdomen
  • Gentle exercise, such as walking, yoga, or low-impact aerobics
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