Interstitial cystitis. A patient's perspective

Interstitial cystitis is a debilitating bladder disorder that affects up to 450,000 people in the United States, 90% of whom are women. Confusion in defining and understanding interstitial cystitis has resulted in the failure to diagnose and treat thousands of afflicted patients, committing them to a life of intractable pain. Even with diagnosis, there are no uniformly effective treatments. It is extremely important that these patients have the understanding and support of the medical community, and they should develop a constructive and effective relationship with their physician and other urologic caregivers.