Bladder pain syndrome (BPS) and interstitial cystitis (IC) are both chronic bladder health conditions. It is a pressure and discomfort sensation in the bladder region. Lower urinary tract symptoms that have persisted for longer than six weeks without infection or other obvious causes coexist with this pain. You can visit Dr. Anish Gupta for any bladder-related problems. He is one of the best urologists in Pitampura, Delhi.

Mild to severe symptoms can be present. Some patients' symptoms may come and go, while others may have persistent symptoms. Although IC/BPS is not an infection, it might seem that way. When having sex, women with IC/BPS may experience pain. Your life and the lives of those you love may be impacted by more severe IC/BPS instances.

Some persons with IC/BPS also suffer from fibromyalgia, chronic pain syndromes, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The urinary system, which consists of the organs in our bodies that produce, store, and excrete pee, includes the bladder and kidneys. Two of your kidneys produce urine. The bladder then stores the urine. Your bladder is held in place by the muscles in the lower region of your abdomen.

Causes

Experts are unsure of the precise cause of IC/BPS, but there are several possibilities, including:

• a weakness in the bladder's tissue that could allow irritants in urine to enter the bladder.

• a particular kind of inflammatory cell known as a mast cell. Histamine and other substances are released by this cell, causing IC/BPS symptoms.

• Urine contains a substance that harms the bladder.

• Changes in the nerves that transmit bladder feelings allow discomfort to be brought on by ordinarily painless events (such as bladder filling).

• The bladder is attacked by the body's immune system. This has characteristics of several autoimmune diseases.

Diagnosis

Exams of the body and the nervous system

To determine what is causing your symptoms, your healthcare professional will evaluate you. Your abdomen, the organs in your pelvis, and your rectum will probably be examined during the physical examination in women. Your abdominal, prostate, and rectum will all be examined during a physical for males. A neurological exam may also be performed by your doctor to rule out any more issues. Patients with IC/BPS may also suffer from anxiety disorders or other mental health problems, which may be related to their disease.

Initial tests for pain and urination

Your doctor will do tests and ask you to complete a series of questionnaires to determine your baseline pain value because pain is the defining symptom of IC/BPS. Finding the location(s), severity, and features of the pain as well as elements that improve or exacerbate it are the main objectives of the examination. How frequently you urinate will also be a question your doctor asks. An extremely low voiding frequency or a big amount of urine passed should cause your doctor to rule out IC/BPS in favor of another urological condition.

Treatment

Drugs on Prescription

Your doctor could suggest trying a prescription medicine if lifestyle modifications are insufficient to alleviate your symptoms. You can use behavioral treatment in addition to or instead of medicine. Oral and intravenous prescription medications are the two forms that may be suggested. Oral medications come in a variety of forms, and their adverse effects can range from drowsiness to stomach discomfort. Using a catheter, intravenous prescription medications are put right into the bladder. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized two medicines to treat IC/BPS:

Therapeutic Neuromodulation

Advanced therapies can be a better option if lifestyle modifications and prescription medications don't help, or if discomfort or side effects are affecting your quality of life. Most likely, a urologist or other expert who handles IC/BPS patients will be recommended to you. The physician might recommend neuromodulation therapy after going through your medical history. A class of treatments known as neuromodulation therapy delivers safe electrical impulses to the nerves to alter how they function.