What are cystitis, interstitial cystitis (IC), urinary tract infection (UTI)
and overactive bladder?
Eur Urol. 2008 Feb 6
Insight into Urogynecologic Features of Women
with Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder
Syndrome.
Gardella B, Porru D, Ferdeghini F, Martinotti
Gabellotti E, Nappi RE, Rovereto B, Spinillo A.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS
Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo, University of
Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Objectives:
The prevalence of interstitial
cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) among
gynecologic patients attending vulvar disease or
pelvic pain clinics is higher than expected. The
evaluation of gynecologic characteristics in
patients with IC/PBS could be important to
delineate a better therapeutic strategy.
Methods:
We compared clinical gynecologic
characteristics including localized and
generalized vulvodynia and sexual activity of 47
women with a definite diagnosis of IC/PBS versus
47 negative controls.
Results:
The prevalence of
both generalized or localized vulvodynia was
85.1% (40 of 47) in the patients and 6.4% (3 of
47) in the control group (p<0.0001 by Fisher
exact test). The mean visual analogue score on
generalized or localized vulvodynia evaluated
with the cotton swab test was 6.1+/-2.6 (SD)
among women with IC/PBS and 0.6+/-1.7 in the
control group (p<0.0001 with Mann-Whitney U
test). Pain during intercourse was described as
unbearable by 15 women with IC/PBS (31.9%) and 2
controls (4.3%; p=0.001 by Fisher exact test).
Sexual function was significantly impaired in
women with IC as measured by the median total
score of the Female Sexual Function Index in
comparison with controls (13.8 vs. 28.7;
p<0.0001).
Conclusions:
Patients with a definite
diagnosis of IC/PBS appear to have a high risk
of vulvodynia with the associated negative
implications for sexual activity. The
establishment of a multidisciplinary approach
with the involvement of the gynecologist appears
to be a logical requisite for a correct
treatment strategy for these patients.
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