Many patients with IC have other overlapping pain conditions such as Dyspareunia (pain with intercourse). 88% of patients with IC had at least one symptoms of sexual dysfunction (lack of sexual interest, can’t relax and enjoy sex, difficulty becoming sexually aroused and difficulty reaching orgasm)1. Women with IC rated their sexual dysfunction as moderate to severe when compared to controls and reported increased pain with intercourse, decreased desire and decreased frequency of orgasm5,6.
Pelvic health physical therapy has been given a grade A from the American Urological Association as a treatment modality for IC. The types of treatment recommended were:
The American Urological Association recommends that patients have multimodal therapy to address all domains that IC can affect. Some of the therapies recommended for IC include:
To discuss your treatment options with a physical therapist, make an appointment here.
1. Bogart LM, Suttorp MJ, Elliott MN, Clemens JQ, Berry SH. Prevalence and correlates of sexual dysfunction among women with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis. Urology. 2011;77:576–580.
2. Hanno P and Dmochowski R: Status of international consensus on interstitial cystitis/ bladder pain syndrome/painful bladder syndrome: 2008 snapshot. Neurourology and Urodynamics 2009; 28: 274.
3. Clemens JQ, Link CL, Eggers PW et al: Prevalence of painful bladder symptoms and effect on quality of life in black, Hispanic and white men and women. J Urol 2007; 177:
4. Lifford KL and Curhan GC: Prevalence of Painful Bladder Syndrome in Older Women. Urology 2009; 73: 494
5. Peters KM, Killinger KA, Carrico DJ et al: Sexual function and sexual distress in women with interstitial cystitis: a case- control study. Urology 2007; 70: 543.
6. Tincello DG and Walker AC: Interstitial cystitis in the UK: results of a questionnaire survey of members of the Interstitial Cystitis Support Group. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2005; 118: 91.
7. Fitzgerald MP, Koch D and Senka J: Visceral and cutaneous sensory testing in patients with painful bladder syndrome. Neurourol Urodyn 2005; 24: 627.
8. Fitzgerald, MP et al: Randomized multicenter clinical trial of myofascial physical therapy in women with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) and pelvic floor tenderness. J Urol 2012; 187: 2113
9. Warren JW, Brown J, Tracy JK et al: Evidence Based criteria for pain of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome in women. Urology 2008; 71: 444
**This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor.
Email: Click Here
phone: (818) 864-6732
fax: (818) 647-0363
phone: (818) 877-6910
phone: (310) 871-9554
phone: (909) 788-0585
© 2021 Heather Jeffcoat, all rights reserved | Site credits
Our site uses cookies to implement some of its features. We encourage you to visit our Terms of Use page for more information.