ABSTRACT
I. INTRODUCTION AND HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the urinary bladder that causes a constellation of irritative voiding symptoms and pelvic pain in the setting of negative urine cultures. Once considered a rare disorder, interstitial cystitis represents one of the major causes of pelvic floor dysfunction for many women. Diagnosis and management can be challenging even for the experienced clinician. A significant problem in establishing the diagnosis of IC is that the symptoms associated with the disorder represent an exaggeration of normal physiological sensations. This chapter reviews historical concepts of the disease, current etiological theories and associated disorders, techniques for diagnosis, and options for management.
