Management of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome

Managing patients with IC/BPS is a very challenging situation at times. All other potential causes of a patient's symptoms should be excluded, but this should not delay treatment if suspicions are high that a patient has IC/BPS. All patients should be counselled on the importance of dietary modifications and conservative therapies. Realistic patient expectations should be set early on to enhance the patient-physician relationship. As there is no cure for this poorly understood condition, many treatment options are available. An algorithmic approach to treatment of these patients may not work. Instead, an individualized, multimodal, multidisciplinary approach should be followed.