Interstitial cystitis – also known as painful bladder syndrome – is a chronic condition in which the sufferer experiences bladder pressure, bladder pain and sometimes pelvic pain, which can range from mild discomfort to severe pain. Interstitial cystitis most often occurs in women, and can have a long-lasting impact on one’s quality of life. Interstitial cystitis is defined as “an unpleasant sensation perceived to be related to the urinary bladder, associated with lower urinary tract symptoms of more than 6 weeks duration, in the absence of infection or other identifiable causes,” according to new American IC/BPS guidelines in 2009.