Bladder pain syndrome (BPS)
Overview
Bladder pain syndrome (BPS), also known as interstitial cystitis, is a condition that causes pain in your lower tummy or back and makes you feel like you want to pee all the time. There's currently no cure, but treatments can help manage your symptoms.
Symptoms
Symptoms of bladder pain syndrome (BPS) include: bladder pain or pain in your lower tummy or backfeeling like you need to pee, even when your bladder is emptypeeing often, usually just small amounts, during the daywaking up at night to peeleaking out a small amount of pee if you do not get to a toilet quickly enoughpain during sex - women can find sex (penetration) painful and men can find getting an erection painful You may also feel discomfort when your bladder fills up after drinking. You may get some relief when you pee. Symptoms of BPS can come and go over time. There are usually times where your symptoms get worse (called flare-ups) and times where they are better. BPS is more common in women than men and usually affects people aged 40 or above.
Causes
The symptoms of bladder pain syndrome (BPS) are caused by the inner lining of the bladder (the bladder wall) becoming irritated and inflamed. But it is unclear why this happens in some people. It's thought it may be caused by: your immune system mistakenly attacking your bladder wall, causing inflammationa problem with your bladder wall which makes it easily irritated by substances in your pee You are more likely to get BPS if you already have another long-term pain condition likefibromyalgia.
Treatment
There is currently no cure for bladder pain syndrome (BPS). But there are treatments that can help manage your symptoms such as pain. Your doctor will talk to you about the different options and what might work best for you. If treatment is not working or your symptoms are severe, you may be referred to a specialist in treating bladder conditions (urologist). Medicines that can help the symptoms of BPS include: everyday painkillers likeparacetamolandibuprofenpainkillers to treat nerve pain likeamitriptyline,gabapentinorpregabalinmedicines that make you pee less like oxybutynin If other treatments have not worked, you may be offered a medicine called pentosan polysulfate sodium to protect your bladder from irritation, or medicine given through a thin tube (catheter) to numb your bladder or reduce your need to pee. There is other treatment and support that can help with the symptoms and problems caused by BPS. This may include: physiotherapy to strengthen your pelvic floor musclesbladder retraining exerciseshelp with managing long-term painmental health support if you have low mood or anxietyadvice on what you can do if symptoms are affecting your sex life (loss of libido)