3 Ways to Identify Interstitial Cystitis

1. Differential Diagnoses

Interstitial cystitis can be a difficult disease to diagnose, particularly because many of its symptoms are similar to those found in other diseases. Before diagnosing you with IC, your doctor will first perform a urine culture and urinalysis to test for bacteria that would indicate a bladder infection. She will also examine you and perform various other tests to rule out gynecological disorders such as endometriosis or fibroids, as well as ectopic pregnancy or an ovarian tumor. You may also need to undergo blood tests to check for kidney disease. Neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis can also exhibit IC-like symptoms, as can prostatitis and sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia and genital herpes.

2. Cystoscopy to Spot Tell-Tale Signs

If interstitial cystitis seems a likely explanation for the symptoms you are experiencing, and if other causes have been ruled out, your doctor will probably order you to undergo a procedure called cystoscopy with hydrodistention. This procedure will be performed under general anesthesia and will involve your bladder being filled with water or gas so that the urologist can examine it with a small fiber-optic camera that has been inserted into your bladder through your urethra. If the urologist spots any of the tiny hemorrhages called glomerulations, which are visible only after bladder distention, it's a sure bet you have interstitial cystitis, as these are found in 95 percent of IC sufferers. Other IC indicators include epithelial ulcerations called Hunner's ulcers, although if these are found, your doctor will usually request to have them biopsied to rule out bladder cancer.

3. Potassium Chloride Sensitivity Test

If your doctor is up to date with all of the latest medical developments surrounding IC diagnoses and treatment, she may also order the potassium chloride sensitivity (Parsons) test. This fairly new procedure involves using a catheter to fill your bladder with a potassium chloride solution, which can reveal defects in your bladder wall. Unlike cystoscopy with hydrodistention, this procedure can be performed right in your doctor's office and only takes a few minutes to complete. It can not only test for the presence of IC, but it can also evaluate how well you are likely to respond to treatment with medications such as Elmiron that work on your bladder lining.