Bladder irritation and bleeding can occur if you have a urinary tract infection, but interstitial cystitis, a chronic disorder that causes inflammation in the bladder wall, can also cause these symptoms. Because the two disorders can have similar symptoms, it's difficult to distinguish between then without a urine test. Unlike a urinary tract infection, which responds to antibiotics, interstitial cystitis, sometimes called IC, has no cure. Modifying your diet can help with the symptoms, and many physicians place caffeine on the "avoid" list if you have IC, but clinical proof is lacking.
Interstitial Cystitis and Caffeine
According to the IC Network, coffee, which contains large amounts of caffeine, tops the list of bladder irritants for women with IC. Caffeine and other substances high in acid irritate the bladder. Caffeine also acts as a diuretic, meaning that you need to urinate more frequently, which can increase feelings of urgency and bladder spasms. The acids and tannins in coffee may also contribute to bladder irritation, because drinking decaffeinated coffee does not seem to help. Teas, whether regular or decaffeinated, also cause symptoms. Teas also contain tannins and tend toward acidity.
Positive Studies
A Thai study reported in the January-April 2011 "Urology Annals" studied the effects of a 4.5 mg/kg dose of caffeine on 12 adults with overactive bladder, another disorder characterized by feelings of urgency and frequency. Caffeine increased the sensations of urgency and also increased voided urine volume due to diuresis. Although IC and overactive bladder differ, this study did show the effects of caffeine on feelings of urgency.
Negative Studies
An abstract presented at the May 2011 meeting of the American Urology Association tested the effects of caffeine intake on IC. The small study, with just 30 participants, divided subjects in two groups, one receiving 100 mg of caffeine in tablet form and one receiving placebo. Five dropped out before study completion, four in the caffeine group and one in the placebo group. Subjects taking caffeine reported no increase in pain or symptoms compared to the placebo group.
Considerations
Living with interstitial cystitis can be frustrating, since there is no one cure. Chronic irritation in the bladder wall makes the bladder stiff and shrinks bladder capacity while also causing pinpoint bleeding. Anecdotal evidence from IC sufferers points to a connection between caffeine and increased discomfort, even if studies haven't always validated this effect. Reducing caffeine and assessing your symptoms is the best way to see if caffeine affects you.
References
- IC Network: Understanding Diet and IC
- American Urological Association; The Effects of Caffeine on the Symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis/ Painful Bladder Syndrome; Amin Herati, et al.; May 2011
- FamilyDoctor; Interstitial Cystitis; August 2010
- "Urology Annals"; Effect of Caffeine on Bladder Function in Patients with Overactive Bladder Symptoms; Supatra Lohsiriwat, et al.; January-April 2011
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