Interstitial Cystitis (Painful Bladder Syndrome)
Symptoms
Page Content
The pelvic floor helps control the bladder, bowel, spine, and sex organs.
The symptoms of interstitial cystitis (IC)/painful bladder syndrome (PBS) include:
Bladder
- Feeling like you have to pass urine all the time (this is called urgency).
- Passing urine more often than normal (this is called frequency).
- Having a hard time to start passing urine.
- Pain with passing urine.
- Not being able to empty your bladder completely.
- Burning when passing urine.
Bowel
- Constipation.
- Pain with bowel movements.
- Feeling pressure on the pelvic floor and organs.
Sex
- Pain in the genital area during or after sex.
Spine
- Pain in your low back, pelvis, or abdomen (belly).
If you have these symptoms, you likely have IC/PBS or problems with your pelvic floor muscle.
Current as of: November 1, 2017
Author: Calgary Pain Program, Alberta Health Services