Yes, a gynecologist, especially a urogynecologist, can definitely help with interstitial cystitis (IC) by diagnosing symptoms like pelvic pain and urinary urgency, managing treatment, and ruling out gynecological causes, often working with urologists for a comprehensive approach to this chronic bladder condition. They manage initial treatments like lifestyle changes and medications, and may perform procedures like hydrodistention, though severe cases might need urological intervention or a multidisciplinary team.
If you are having symptoms of interstitial cystitis, it's important to see a board certified urologist before the condition progresses. At Comprehensive Urology in Los Angeles, our urology specialists are skilled in diagnosing and treating female urological issues.
If you get it, you may suffer from this chronic condition for years. It may continue for the rest of your life. There is no known cure for interstitial cystitis, although your OBGYN can treat it to control your pain and other symptoms.
In addition, these mediators cause bladder mucosal irritation, which is responsible for urgency, increased frequency, and dysuria. The systemic release of inflammatory mediators causes low-grade fever.
While your gynecologist can treat certain conditions related to the urinary system, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI), they may refer you to a urologist if you experience recurrent UTIs or have other symptoms that indicate something is affecting your urinary tract.
If you're unsure whether to stick with your gynecologist or see a urogynecologist, consider the symptoms you're experiencing. A referral to a urogynecologist may be right if you have: A vaginal bulge or sense of pressure, especially with standing or lifting. Urinary leakage when laughing, sneezing or exercising.
Important pathology of the lower urinary tract and the distal ureters can be readily diagnosed by transvaginal ultrasound examination. The evaluation of the bladder and the ureters should therefore be part of the standard gynecological ultrasound investigation.
It may feel like a bladder or urinary tract infection, but it's not. It is a feeling of discomfort and pressure in the bladder area that lasts for six weeks or more with no infection or other clear cause. There may also be lower urinary tract symptoms like a regular, urgent need to pass urine.
Early identification of IC can be challenging, as the clinical presentation is similar to other common conditions, including recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI), endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain (CPP), vulvodynia, and overactive bladder (OAB) (Table 1) [9], [10].
This study demonstrated that two times as many patients treated with antibiotics for interstitial cystitis reported improvement compared with the placebo group. However, the authors felt that most patients in their study guessed which arm to which they were assigned.
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic and painful condition of the bladder. People with IC have a bladder wall that is tender and easily irritated, leading to uncomfortable symptoms. Although IC currently has no cure, the symptoms can be managed to help you feel better and live more comfortably.
A key difference is that while gynecologists treat only women, a urologist would treat both men and women, and occasionally children. While certain illnesses could require a trip to the urologist, there are actually many reasons a healthy women might schedule an appointment outside of a regular gynecologist visit.
Interstitial cystitis often coexists with conditions like endometriosis, for which hysterectomy is indicated. Many patients subsequently diagnosed with interstitial cystitis continue to experience persistent pelvic pain despite having had a hysterectomy for chronic pelvic pain.
Charlotte McKinney. Whether you know Charlotte McKinney from Baywatch, Dancing With The Stars, or one of her many ad campaigns, what you probably don't know is that she suffers from a chronic bladder condition called interstitial cystitis.
Oral medications
Antihistamines, such as loratadine (Claritin, others), which may reduce urinary urgency and frequency and relieve other symptoms. Pentosan polysulfate sodium (Elmiron), which is approved by the Food and Drug Administration specifically for treating interstitial cystitis.
Clinical associations have been found between IC and allergy, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), and generalized autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Sjögren's syndrome (SS) (Table 1).
Experts don't know what causes interstitial cystitis (IC). Researchers are looking at many theories to understand the causes of IC and find the best treatments. Most people with IC find that certain foods make their symptoms worse.
The Difference Between a UTI and IC
In women who have interstitial cystitis, urine culture results will be negative, meaning that no bacteria are found in the urine as with a urinary tract infection. With IC, women may also experience pain during sexual intercourse, another symptom not commonly associated with a UTI.
In addition, the lack of a diagnostic test for IC/BPS may lead to a misdiagnosis such as:
If you have interstitial cystitis, your symptoms may also vary over time, periodically flaring in response to common triggers, such as menstruation, sitting for a long time, stress, exercise and sexual activity.
In some cases, all the symptoms of bacterial cystitis may be present yet a urine sample does not indicate the presence of any infection. In these cases, the symptoms of bacterial cystitis can persist even if a course of antibiotics has been prescribed and been unsuccessful.
If you are experiencing ongoing pain or other problems with your bladder, bowels, or pelvic floor muscles, you may need to see a urogynecologist. Urogynecology is a branch of gynecology that specializes in the surgical treatment of these types of conditions.
Often an antibiotic is given before the test. You may be given an IV sedative or anesthesia, depending on your situation and the type of scope that will be used. This will make you sleepy and not feel pain during the cystoscopy.
A cystoscopy test is typically a quick procedure. You'll be lying down, and your doctor may give you a sedative or general anesthesia to help you relax or sleep through the procedure. You should also plan to have a ride to and from the testing facility.