Diagnosis, treatment, and lifestyle changes of interstitial cystitis.

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic inflammation of all the layers of the bladder wall. As it is difficult to diagnose and it affects mostly women, many physicians misdiagnose it as a psychological problem. Almost half a million individuals in the United States suffer from this cureless disorder. This article will review the anatomy, physiology, etiology, diagnosis, treatments, and current research foci of IC, along with the effects of the disease on lifestyle and personal issues from the patient's perspective.