Painful Bladder Syndrome

This uncommon condition causes extreme urinary urgency & frequency. Sufferers may need to visit the toilet to pass urine every few minutes but very little urine is passed out each time. Pain may be experienced around the lower abdomen, perineum or inner thighs. The older term for this condition is ‘Interstitial Cystitis’. We do not know what causes Painful Bladder Syndrome but several theories have been proposed. Investigations are required to rule out urine infection, gynaecological and urinary tract pathology such as stones and tumours. Management is difficult and involves dietary adjustment, oral medication or intra-vesical instillation (instilling medication into the bladder).