ABSTRACT
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a clinical condition of multifactorial etiology characterized by urinary
frequency, urgency, debilitating episodic bladder discomfort, and the potential for the develop-
ment of chronic pelvic pain (CPP). In a multicenter, observational study designed to evaluate
the treated history of IC, 379 of 424 patients (94%) reported the presence of pain, with 24%
of those suffering from severe discomfort (1). In a survey of 374 patients performed to charac-
terize the natural history of IC, 96% of respondents overall reported pain, with 54% of subjects
describing their discomfort as severe or excruciating (2). Of respondents with symptoms for
.15 years, 99% reported pain, with 62% reporting the presence of severe or excruciating discomfort. Pelvic pain has been found to be a preponderant, durable, and potentially debilitating
component of IC symptomatology. This chapter will consider the etiology and treatment of CPP
in patients with IC.
