| July 2010 · Vol. 22, No. 07 FIRST OF 2 PARTS
INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS:
The gynecologist’s guide
to diagnosis
Don’t overlook this disease when a patient complains of pelvic pain. As many as 85% of women who seek care for chronic pelvic pain have interstitial cystitis and painful bladder syndrome, studies show—instead of, or in addition to, a gynecologic diagnosis.
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Fast Track
Interstitial cystitis and painful bladder syndrome occur in the absence of urinary tract infection or other pathology such as bladder carcinoma or cystitis induced by radiation or medication
About 90% of patients who have interstitial cystitis and painful bladder syndrome have only one symptom in the beginning
Some data suggest that nonpelvic syndromes, such as fibromyalgia and migraine, can lead to central or peripheral sensitization that results in interstitial cystitis
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Fred
M.
Howard,
MDDr. Howard is Professor and Associate Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, where he also directs the Division of GYN Specialties.
Dr. Howard is a speaker and consultant for Ortho Women’s Health and Urology and a consultant for Ethicon Women’s Health and Urology.
Part 2 of this article reviews components of the treatment of IC/PBS and their stepwise application.
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