Articles:
Treatment - medication (bladder instillations)
DMSO, a wood pulp extract, is the only approved bladder instillation for IC/PBS yet it is much less frequently used in urology clinics. Research studies presented at recent conferences of the American Urological Association by C. Subah Packer have demonstrated that the FDA approved dosage of a 50% solution of DMSO had the potential of creating irreversible muscle contraction. However, a lesser solution of ...Section: Interstitial cystitis
Alternative treatment methods
Numerous alternative therapies are used to improve sexual function. Some include: niacin, zinc, copper, Korean red ginseng root, ginkgo, pine bark, Tribulus terrestris, arginine, Avena sativa, horny goat weed, maca root, muira puama, saw palmetto, and Swedish flower pollen. None of these however have been recognized as effective by the FDA. While zinc deficiency may be a cause of lower ...Section: Erectile Dysfunction
Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome - signs and symptoms
These patients have no history of genitourinary pain complaints, but leukocytosis is noted, usually during evaluation for other conditions.Section: Prostatitis
Treatment - surgery
Surgical interventions are rarely used for IC/PBS. Surgical intervention is very unpredicatable for IC/PBS, and is considered a treatment of last resort when all other treatment modalities have failed and pain is severe. Some patients who opt for surgical intervention continue to experience ...Section: Interstitial cystitis
Treatment - bladder distension
Bladder distension (a procedure which stretches the bladder capacity, done under general anaesthesia) has shown some success in reducing urinary frequency and giving pain relief to patients. However, many experts still cannot understand precisely how this can cause pain relief. Recent studies showing that pressure on pelvic trigger points can relieve symptoms may be connected. Unfortunately, the relief achieved by bladder distensions is only temporary (weeks or months) and consequently, it is not really viable as a long-term treatment for ...Section: Interstitial cystitis