Interstitial cystitis (IC) – also known as painful bladder syndrome and bladder pain syndrome – is characterized by pain, pressure or discomfort of the bladder in the absence of infection or other pathology. Sufferers also typically experience urinary frequency and urgency and may have pain during or after intercourse.

Based on the RICE and BACH studies,
between three to eight million women and one to four million men suffer from IC. The average age of symptom onset is 40 years.

A 2011 study found the U.S. direct costs of IC to be $22 billion.