Interstitial cystitis differs if you’ve been sexually abused

Interstitial cystitis is a miserable, uncomfortable, and painful disorder that affects more women then men. It’s also rarely talked about because of its very nature (Company’s calling – living with the pain of interstitial cystitis).

Researchers have found that between 18% to 33% of people who have interstitial cystitis (IC), also caused painful bladder syndrome, have been sexually abused. According to a study published in the Journal of Urology, women with IC who have been sexually abused feel the pain differently and have other symptoms compared with women who don’t have a history of sexual abuse.

Researchers studied 121 women who had IC; they found that 32 women reported that they had been sexually abused earlier in life. Sexual abuse ranged from rape to inappropriate touching. Interestingly, the women who had been abused voided larger amounts of urine than those who had not been abused. The researchers also found that the abused women didn’t urinate as often during the day or night. They did, however, have more pain above the pubic area, and in the vulva, vaginal, cervical, and rectal areas.

Information like this is important for physicians. If physicians understand that women with sexual abuse had a different presentation of IC, they may be better able to detect and diagnose it, rather than falling on the typical criteria.

Speaking out about sexual abuse isn’t easy, but your doctor really should know because it could impact a lot of health issues, including this one.

~~~~~

Tags: chronic pain blog, pain blog, interstitial cystitis, painful bladder, painful bladder syndrome, sexual abuse, sexually abused, rape, inappropriate touching