Your IC Evaluation

During your evaluation, our expert healthcare providers may begin by asking you questions about your symptoms and medical history to rule out other problems that may be causing your symptoms, and may check your abdomen and examine your genital area for signs of a problem. Certain tests may also be done.

Possible Tests

Tests that may be done to help diagnose IC or rule out other problems include the following:

• Lab Tests, such as urinalysis and urine culture, to test for infection.
• Cytology (examination of urine under a microscope) to rule out cancer.
• Urodynamic studies to test the workings of the bladder, such as how the bladder fills and empties.
• Cystoscopy, visual examination of the bladder, to look for problems. The doctor looks at the bladder through a cystoscope, a tubelike instrument containing special lenses and a light. Cystoscopy is usually done in the hospital with general anesthesia so you are asleep. Your bladder is then filled with liquid to stretch the walls, a process called hydrodistention. A sample (biopsy) of bladder tissue may also be taken for examination.

Learn more about urinary tract examinations here.