There are treatments out there that can help and I strongly urge people to talk to their doctors about available options. I want to ensure that others affected by these conditions will not have to endure a similar fate. Overactive bladder affects more than 17 million Americans. Overactive bladder is not only a medical condition, but also a problem that affects an individual's emotional and social well-being. Many sufferers become isolated or even housebound due to the fear and embarrassment of having wetting accidents in public.
Overactive bladder can also disrupt sleep, social interaction, relationships and sexual activity.
Classic IC symptoms include the urgent and frequent need to urinate, as well as pelvic or bladder pain and pain during sex. Doctors frequently misdiagnose IC as a urinary tract infection and prescribe antibiotics, which prove ineffective. As a result, IC patients can often endure years of pain and frustration and consult numerous physicians before reaching a proper IC diagnosis. A.F.U.D.'s mission is to prevent and cure urologic diseases through the expansion of research, education, public awareness and advocacy. National and international programs sponsored by the A.F.U.D. are enabling patients to work together with their physicians and health care providers to make informed treatment decisions.