Complaint of frequent urination is not a mental illness, it is an infection.

If you feel like urinating frequently, then do not consider it as a pelvic problem after delivery and do not consider it as hysteria. This could be a disease called interstitial cystitis, which can be cured if treated timely.

It is often seen in older women that due to nervousness they start complaining of frequent urination. In some cases, this problem increases significantly after delivery. For this, doctors also advise doing pelvic exercises. The term ‘hysteria’ was widely used officially by doctors in the mid-to-late 20th century. This was the name of an accepted disease in medical science 50 to 40 years ago. Whenever there was no apparent reason for a woman’s physical symptoms, such as chronic pain, extreme fatigue or neurological problems, doctors would simply declare her ‘hysteria’. Today the word ‘hysteria’ may not be used, but the thinking has not completely changed. Even today, many times the problems of women are minimized by calling them ‘overthinkers’ or ‘anxiety’. Research shows that women take longer than men to be diagnosed and their pain is often underestimated. Interstitial cystitis is a great example of this because in this the patient feels that he is urinating. Sometimes only one or two drops of urine comes out. At the same time, the symptoms of hysteria are also similar in which due to nervousness, women feel like urinating again and again. Let’s talk about what is interstitial cystitis?

interstitial cystitis

It is a chronic inflammatory disease of the bladder, characterized by persistent pain, frequent urination, and severe agency – and antibiotics do not respond. This disease occurs mostly in women, but there is very little awareness about it. It often takes 5 to 7 years to get a correct diagnosis.

difficult to identify

Symptoms of interstitial cystitis are like common urine infections, such as frequent urination, pain, waking up at night, etc. But when tests do not find infection, doctors often do not investigate further. Also, this disease can also be accompanied by other problems like endometriosis or IBS, due to which the patient keeps wandering to different doctors. Actually, diagnosing interstitial cystitis does not require very complex tests; it is enough to take a proper history, understand the symptoms and rule out other diseases. It is important that doctors think about this disease.

symptoms of disease

In severe cases, a woman may urinate up to 40-60 times a day. Sleep is not complete, work gets affected and personal life also gets affected. When the reports come back normal again and again, the patient himself starts thinking that perhaps the problem is in his own mind. Depression and anxiety are not the cause of this disease, but are its result. Calling it ‘stress’ without proper investigation is injustice to the patient.

treatment is possible

Interstitial cystitis cannot be completely cured, but it can be controlled. Proper diet, pelvic floor exercises, medications, and other therapies, if needed, can provide significant relief. But most patients reach the right treatment very late.

responsibility of doctors

When a woman has had bladder problems for a long time and the reports are normal, it is important to think about IC. This is an opportunity to correct past mistakes and provide the right treatment to the patient at the right time. Illness affects not only the body but also the confidence. Interstitial cystitis is not just a bladder disease, it affects a woman’s entire lifestyle and self-confidence. Many women start avoiding going out of the house for long periods of time, traveling or going to social events because they worry about going to the washroom again and again. Some patients remain afraid all the time that pain or agency may start suddenly. It also affects their relationships, career and mental health.

Unfortunately, many times even family and people around do not fully understand the problem. When all reports are normal, the patient is considered to be ‘overreacting’. This is the reason why many women stop expressing their problems and continue to suffer the pain silently.

Today the need is not only for treatment, but also for sensitivity. Along with doctors, the family also has to understand that not every disease is visible in blood test or scan. Listening carefully to the patient is also an important part of treatment. Furthermore, women should not ignore their body’s signals. If frequent urination, bladder pain, burning sensation or pelvic discomfort persists for a long time and does not get relief even after taking antibiotics repeatedly, then it is important to consult a urologist. With early detection, the disease can be controlled better and a major improvement in the quality of life of the patient is possible. This is not a big favor – but it is our responsibility.

(The author is Dr. Jaideep Jain, Associate Consultant, Urology, ISIC Multispeciality Hospital)

“Early detection allows the disease to be better controlled and can significantly improve the patient’s quality of life.”