ALL
Health Information and Tools > Health A-Z >  Interstitial Cystitis (Painful Bladder Syndrome): Symptoms

Main Content

Interstitial Cystitis (Painful Bladder Syndrome)

Symptoms

​​​​

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)
  • pain with passing urine
  • burning when passing urine
  • pressure in the pelvic region

Bowel (often seen with PBS)

  • constipation
  • pain with bowel movements
  • feeling pressure on the pelvic floor and organs

Sex

  • pain in the genital area during or after sex

Spine (if you've had symptoms for a long time)

  • pain in your low back, pelvis, or abdomen (belly)

If you have these symptoms, you may have IC/PBS or problems with your pelvic floor muscle.




Current as of: May 1, 2020

Author: Calgary Pain Program, Alberta Health Services