Painful Bladder Syndrome

Description

Painful bladder syndrome (PBS), also known as interstitial cystitis, is a chronic bladder condition which causes a variety of symptoms, often including bladder pressure, bladder and pelvic pain and urinary symptoms.

​Symptoms

• Pain in your pelvis or between your vagina and anus
• Frequent urination and a persistent urge to urinate
• Discomfort or pain while your bladder fills and relief after urinating
• Pain during sexual intercourse

Investigations

A full diagnostic workup will be performed to exclude reversible cause of PBS symptoms and may include:

• Urinalysis and urine culture
• Ultrasound of the urinary tract
• Cystoscopy and biopsy​ 

Treatment

• Medication
• Psychotherapy and bladder retraining exercises
• Bladder hydrodistension
• Bladder instillation of medication
• Botox injections in the bladder
• Sacral nerve stimulation
• Bladder augmentation surgery is a last resort and involves the surgeon inserting a patch of the intestine in the bladder to increase its capacity.