By IC Ally | Reviewed by H.Tamaklo (Registered Nurse) A gentle place to start Interstitial cystitis, also called bladder pain syndrome or IC/BPS, is a long-term bladder and pelvic pain condition. It can cause bladder pain, pressure, urinary urgency, urinary frequency, urethral burning, pelvic discomfort, and flares that may come and go. Unlike a typical UTI, IC symptoms can happen even when urine tests do not show infection. In simple terms, interstitial cystitis is a chronic

Understanding How Infection Can Lead to a Chronic Bladder Condition By IC Ally | Reviewed by Clinical Advisors Many people with interstitial cystitis (IC), also known as bladder pain syndrome (BPS), trace the start of their symptoms back to a urinary tract infection (UTI). The infection is treated—often successfully—with antibiotics, yet the burning, urgency, and bladder pain never fully disappear. This can feel confusing and frustrating. How can symptoms continue when infect

If you’ve been told “your urine test is clear” while your bladder feels like it’s on fire, you are not imagining it. You might already have read our basic overview: What is Interstitial Cystitis (IC) and Bladder Pain Syndrome? . That article explains what IC/BPS is and how it’s diagnosed. This post goes a step deeper. Here, we’ll look at what’s actually happening inside your body – in your bladder lining, pelvic floor and nervous system – so your symptoms start to make mor