Symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis

The symptoms of IC vary from person to person and even in the same person. People with IC may experience mild discomfort, pressure, tenderness, or intense pain in the bladder and surrounding pelvic area. Symptoms may include an urgent need to urinate (urgency), frequent need to urinate (frequency), or a combination of these symptoms. Pain may change in intensity as the bladder fills with urine or as it empties. Women's symptoms often get worse during their periods. Pain during sex is common.

Some people find that their bladders cannot hold much urine, which increases the frequency of urination. Yet some people with severe frequency have bladders that can hold a normal amount of urine. People with severe cases of IC may urinate as many as 60 times during a 24-hour period.