The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2007;9:1:34-41
doi: 10.1576/toag.9.1.034.27294
Copyright © 2007 by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Painful bladder syndrome and interstitial cystitis
Swati Jha, MD MRCOG, Specialist Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology1,
Matthew Parsons, MRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist2 and
Philip Toozs-Hobson, MD MRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist3
1. Department of Urogynaecology Birmingham Women's Hospital, Metchley Park Road Birmingham, B15 2TG, UK
2. Department of Urogynaecology Birmingham Women's Hospital Metchley Park Road Birmingham, B15 2TG, UK Email: Matthew.Parsons{at}bwhct.nhs.uk (corresponding author)
3. Department of Urogynaecology Birmingham Women's Hospital, Metchley Park Road Birmingham, B15 2TG. UK
Key content:
- Painful bladder syndrome is a chronic disabling condition that mainly affects women.
- The aetiology is uncertain, but is almost certainly multi-factorial and presents as a triad of pain, urinary urgency and frequency.
- The most common diagnosis made is interstitial cystitis. Diagnosis is based on history and examination and supplemented by clinical investigation.
Learning objectives:
- To be able to identify the clinical features of interstitial cystitis and arrange appropriate diagnostic tests.
- To know how to manage interstitial cystitis using non-pharmacological, dietary and behavioural treatment, as well as pharmacological and surgical therapy.
Ethical issues:
- How much information should women be given about possible adverse effects?
Please cite this article as: Jha S, Parsons M, Toozs-Hobson P. Painful bladder syndrome and interstitial cystitis. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2007;9:3441.
Keywords interstitial cystitis / painful bladder syndrome / pelvic pain / urinary frequency / urinary urgency
Copyright © 2007 by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.