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Interstitial cystitis (bladder pain syndrome): the signs, the tests, and what helps
For anyone whose bladder hurts and gets worse as it fills; anyone who has to go all the time, day and night; anyone told again and again that their urine tests show no infection; and anyone whose bladder pain comes in flares. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK, part of the NIH) says interstitial cystitis (IC), also called bladder pain syndrome, is a chronic, or long-lasting, condition that causes painful urinary symptoms; that between 4 and 12 million people in the United States may have it; that it is found by ruling out other conditions; and that many treatments can help, though you may need to try several. This page passes on, by name, what NIDDK says: the signs and what sets off flares, who gets it and what can go with it, the history, the exam and the tests, treatment, and food and drink, sleep, sex and getting through the day. It builds the words to say to a doctor, and prints a card to keep.
Right now
- Fever, chills, pain in your back or side, or throwing up, together with bladder pain or burning? Ours: see a doctor the same day; it can mean an infection has reached the kidneys. Call 911 if the person is very ill, confused or fainting.
- You cannot pass urine at all? Ours: go to the emergency room now. Blood or clots in your urine need a doctor soon: Blood in the urine.
- The pain has worn you down, or you are thinking of ending your life? Call or text 988, any hour (ours).
More help
- The bladder, on this site: Bladder infection (UTI) · Blood in the urine · Bladder leaks · Enlarged prostate · Kidneys, bladder and urine: find the right page.
- What can go with it: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) · Fibromyalgia · Migraine · Living with chronic pain · When the heaviness won’t lift · Anxiety.
- Day to day: Symptom diary · My medicines list · When you can’t sleep · Breathe · Quit smoking.
- Care and costs: When you need a doctor and can’t pay · When a medical bill is too much · Get ready for your appointment.
- In a crisis: Help right now (988, 911). All our free tools.
Kidneys, bladder or urine, and not sure this is the right page? The pages on this site for bladder infections, kidney stones, blood in the urine, bladder pain, bladder leaks, the prostate, kidney disease and bedwetting, on one list.
This page and its wording were written with AI (Claude) for Scarlet Beast (our AI policy). No doctor or nurse has reviewed it. The facts were read on October 17, 2026 on NIDDK’s Interstitial Cystitis (Bladder Pain Syndrome) pages (NIH): the overview, Definition & Facts, Symptoms & Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment and Eating, Diet, & Nutrition (last reviewed July 2024), and their Spanish versions (last reviewed July 2017), which are older and not word for word the same; where a line comes from only one of them, it says which. Ours: a doctor the same day for fever, chills, back or side pain or throwing up with bladder pain, and 911 if very ill, confused or fainting; the emergency room for not being able to pee at all; a doctor soon for blood or clots in the urine; asking about IC when urine tests keep finding no infection; that the pain is real and a flare is not something you did; telling your partner; asking which medicine and how much, and not stopping or changing a prescribed medicine on your own; a pain specialist for long-lasting pain; 988 when it has worn you down; health centers when money is tight; and the order of the steps. What we left out: the names and brands of medicines (NIDDK names some), doses, research studies, and clinical pages for providers. This page saves nothing and loads no trackers.