Interstitial cystitis is inflammation of the bladder that can cause pelvic pain and pressure. It can also cause you to feel like you have to urinate more often, even if you only have small amounts of urine in your bladder.

Interstitial cystitis can interfere with your quality of life, disrupting your day with frequent trips to the bathroom or preventing you from enjoying sex. Expert urologists at University of Miami Health System can help you find ways to improve or control your symptoms.

Treatments

Medicines
Physical therapy can help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and control urination.

Physical Therapy
During nerve stimulation, your doctor places a specialized box with electrical leads into your lower back or pelvis. These leads are attached to nerves that go to your pelvis. The boxes deliver low-level shocks to your nerves, which can help reduce how often you need to use the restroom and relieve pain.

Nerve Stimulation
During nerve stimulation, your doctor places a specialized box with electrical leads into your lower back or pelvis. These leads are attached to nerves that go to your pelvis. The boxes deliver low-level shocks to your nerves, which can help reduce how often you need to use the restroom and relieve pain.

Bladder Distention 
For this treatment, your bladder is filled with water and slowly stretched. Some patients find that a bigger bladder causes fewer symptoms.

Surgery
Very rarely, your doctor may use surgery to remove ulcers from the inside of the bladder or expand the bladder using part of your intestines. Talk to your urologist about possible risks and benefits of surgery.

Tests

Bladder Diary
To help diagnose your condition, your doctor may ask you to keep a diary of when you drink fluids and go to the bathroom. 

Pelvic Exam
Your doctor will examine your pelvis and abdomen to look for symptoms of interstitial cystitis.

Urine Tests
Your doctor may take a sample of your urine to look for signs of an infection.

Cystoscopy
For this procedure, your doctor inserts a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end through your urethra and into your bladder. This allows your doctor to examine the inside of your bladder thoroughly.

Biopsy
Your doctor may use a needle to remove a small portion of your bladder. These cells are then examined in a lab to look for bladder cancer, a rare cause of bladder pain.

Potassium Sensitivity Test
Your doctor will examine your pelvis and abdomen to look for symptoms of interstitial cystitis.For this test, your doctor puts two different types of fluids in your bladder one at a time. One solution contains potassium and the other does not. Normal bladders don’t feel any difference between the two solutions. However, if you have interstitial cystitis, you may feel more pain and pressure with the potassium solution.

Why Choose UHealth?

Innovative, expert urology care at the Desai Sethi Urology Institute. Our team of urology experts delivers advanced care for all urologic conditions. We use the latest research and the least invasive procedures to help you feel better and recover more quickly. Our experienced urologists design a personalized treatment plan to give you the best possible results.

Multidisciplinary approach to care. Your doctor works closely with specialists in radiology, behavioral health, and surgery to offer comprehensive treatment. You have a team of experts on your side.

A top-ranked program for kidney and bladder cancer treatment. We offer advanced care for urologic cancers and are ranked among the top five kidney and bladder cancer programs in the country. Our urologists are dedicated to identifying cancer early so we can provide more effective treatment. We were the first — and only — medical center in South Florida to use enhanced Blue Light Cystoscopy with Cysview imaging technology to detect and identify bladder cancer.