Do you have frequent, sometimes painful urination?  Do you have the urge to urinate, even after relieving your bladder?  Do you wake up in the middle of the night to urinate?  Is sex painful, or do you have pain after intercourse?  Do you have chronic pelvic pain?

If you experience any of these symptoms, you may have Interstitial Cystitis.

Interstitial cystitis is a long-term, chronic, yet treatable, inflammatory condition of the bladder affecting as many as 7 million women in the United States. Noone knows for sure what causes IC, but it may be due to damage to the mucous layer that lines and protects the bladder wall, allowing substances in the urine to irritate and inflame the wall. Interstitial Cystitis is not life threatening, but may have a profound affect on your quality of life.  If you think you have IC, it may seem like no one understands what you're going through. The good news is that there are new and promising treatments available.  Remember, you're not alone. And with your doctor's help, you can overcome IC.

We at OB/GYN Group of Attleboro are pleased to diagnose and treat women with Interstitial Cystitis.  Diagnosis often includes a complete history and urinalysis as well as a potassium sensitivity test.  If it is found that IC is the likely cause of your problems, a combination of medications in liquid form may be instilled into the bladder with a catheter.  These medications are thought to help repair the bladder lining and decrease the nerve sensitivity of the bladder.  Along with regularly scheduled instillations, Elmiron, the only FDA approved oral medication for treatment of the pain of IC, is prescribed.  Other treatments may include avoiding triggers, pain management, and physical therapy of the pelvic floor. 

You no longer need to suffer in silence.  Please contact us to set up an appointment.  Together we can find the most effective strategies for controlling your symptoms.