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Complementary and Alternative Medicine for the Management of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome: a Recent Update

  • BPS/Interstitial Cystitis (D Castro-Diaz and Y Igawa, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Bladder Dysfunction Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Interstitial cystitis and/or bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) affect many women in the USA and management of IC/BPS can be challenging for the providers. In addition to conventional treatment options outlined by the American Urologic Association (AUA) guidelines, many complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) have been gaining popularity. Our study aims to review recent publications on CAM and management of IC/BPS.

Recent Finding

Our literature search included all studies that addressed complementary or alternative methods of treating IC/BPS patients from the last 5 years. We have identified studies that involve the following categories: diet therapy, acupuncture therapy, mind-body intervention, pelvic floor physical therapy, and massage. We have found that intensive dietary manipulation can improve symptoms of IC/BPS, and the effect can last up to a year. Acupuncture therapy can be effective in managing IC/BPS symptoms in the first 3 months after intervention, but the effect decreased over time. Mind-body interventions can be used as an adjunct to the usual care in the treatment of IC/BPS, and it helped improve the Global Response Assessment scores. Lastly, Thiele massage demonstrated negative impact in the perception of pain in patients with IC/BPS and should not be used as a monotherapy.

Summary

Current studies are limited by small number of patients and mixed quality of evidence. Larger, high-quality studies are needed to evaluate the effect of CAM on IC/BPS symptoms. Other forms of CAM as well as combined therapies should also be studied in the future. Our review concluded that providers should consider CAM as an adjunct in the treatment of IC/BPS.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, UMass Memorial Medical Center/University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA

    Xibei Jia

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Cooper University Healthcare, Camden, NJ, USA

    Tess Crouss

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Neha Rana

  4. Professor of Urology and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Kristene E. Whitmore

  5. Virtua Female Pelvic Medicine, Marlton, NJ, USA

    Kristene E. Whitmore

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  1. Xibei Jia
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  2. Tess Crouss
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  4. Kristene E. Whitmore
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Correspondence to Kristene E. Whitmore.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on BPS/Interstitial Cystitis

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Jia, X., Crouss, T., Rana, N. et al. Complementary and Alternative Medicine for the Management of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome: a Recent Update. Curr Bladder Dysfunct Rep 15, 214–218 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11884-020-00594-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11884-020-00594-0

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