ABSTRACT
Bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) is a debilitating, chronic disease that has a negative impact on patient's quality of life. BPS/IC is characterised by pelvic, bladder, and urethral pain, associated with irritative voiding symptoms including urinary frequency, urgency, and nocturia. BPS/IC most commonly affects women between the ages of 40 and 60 years with a 9:1 female preponderance. It also occurs most frequently in Caucasians. Abnormality in the bladder vasculature resulting in relative ischaemia of the bladder has been suggested to be partly responsible for some of the symptoms of BPS/IC. Patients with BPS/IC typically complain of chronic pelvic pain. This may be associated with daytime as well as night time frequency, nocturia, and urgency. Pelvic examination is often unhelpful in making the diagnosis of BPS/IC. Urodynamics has no specific defined role in the diagnosis of BPS/IC as there are no existing urodynamic findings specific for BPS/IC.
