Interstitial cystitis: New concepts in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management

Abstract

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a disorder of the lower urinary tract that causes symptoms of pelvic pain and/or urinary frequency. Often mistaken for other urologic or gynecologic disorders, it is a gradually progressive disease that may affect as many as 1 in 4.5 women, as well as a significant number of men. IC has been considered difficult to detect because of its variable presentation and the lack of a generally accepted set of criteria for diagnosis. In recent years, however, significant advances have been made in the understanding of this complex and surprisingly common disorder. © 2006 Springer-Verlag London Limited.