Interstitial Cystitis is a pelvic pain syndrome that is characterized by painful bladder symptoms including pain with bladder filling, pain with urination, pain after urination, urinary urgency and frequency and pelvic pain. This pelvic pain syndrome affects roughly 3 – 8 million women in the United States and 1-4 million men.

The symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis are present in the absence of infection even though the symptoms mimic infection, which can lead to diagnostic confusion.

The majority of men and women diagnosed also have pelvic floor dysfunction, therefore the American Urologic Association recommends pelvic floor physical therapy as 1st-line and effective treatment.