Interstitial Cystitis (Bladder Disorder)

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic bladder condition that can cause pain and other symptoms. People with IC have an inflamed or irritated bladder wall. This inflammation can lead to:

• scarring and stiffening of the bladder;

• less bladder capacity (the bladder is able to hold less urine);

• pinpoint bleeding in the bladder lining. In rare cases, ulcers form in the bladder lining.

Of the more than 700,000 Americans estimated to have IC, about 90 percent are women. Severe cases of IC can be very disabling.