Diagnosis of Interstitial Cystitis

How do health care professionals diagnose IC?

Health care professionals diagnose interstitial cystitis (IC) by ruling out other conditions with similar symptoms. They will use your medical history, a physical exam, and lab and other tests to help diagnose IC. Your health care professional will ask questions about your symptoms and may have you keep a voiding log, also known as a bladder diary.

Medical history

A health care professional will ask

• if you have a history of health problems related to IC
• questions about your symptoms
• other questions to help find the cause of your bladder problems

Physical exam

Your health care professional will do a regular physical exam. To check your pelvic floor muscles, your health care professional may also do a

• pelvic exam if you are female
• digital rectal exam if you are male

Bladder diary

Your health care professional may ask you to keep a voiding log, also known as a bladder diary. A bladder diary will help you record the amount of liquids you drink and how much urine you pass.

What tests do health care professionals use to diagnose IC?

Health care professionals may use urinalysis, urine culture, and other tests to help diagnose IC or to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms.

Lab tests

Urinalysis

Urinalysis checks your urine sample for blood in the urine and white blood cells. Your body produces white blood cells when it is fighting an infection caused by bacteria.

Urine culture

Urine culture identifies some common types of bacteria in your urine. Bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections, can be treated with antibiotics.

Other tests

Your health care professional may order tests to rule out other conditions or help make decisions about treating your IC, such as

• cystoscopy to look inside the urethra and bladder
• urodynamic testing to measure how well parts of your urinary tract are storing and releasing urine

View full-sized image