Experts estimate that interstitial cystitis (IC) affects about 3 to 8 million women and 1 million men in the US. {That's more than the number of people with breast cancer, autism, and Alzheimer's combined!} However, these figures may significantly underestimate the true prevalence of the condition. IC can affect anyone. Women, men, and children of any age or race can develop IC.

On average, it may take up to 5 years to receive a correct diagnosis of IC.

In the US, the mean yearly costs for treating IC are more than double those of other patients ($7,100 versus $2,994) and the median yearly costs are close to 4 times greater ($5,000 versus $1,304).

Research has shown that an IC patient's quality of life can be worse than that of patients undergoing renal dialysis for end-stage kidney disease.

Pelvic pain resulting from IC can be so severe that many people with IC abstain from all sexual activity.

Some people with IC have a greater risk of developing certain related disorders, such as food and seasonal allergies, pelvic floor dysfunction, fibromyalgia, vulvodynia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

While today there is no cure or uniformly effective treatment for IC, there are treatments that alleviate IC symptoms.

More research is needed to understand all aspects of IC, including variations in treatment response.