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Interstitial Cystitis and Sexual Dysfunction: Diagnostic Accuracy Is Essential

  • Medical Comorbidities (A Goldstein, M Miner, and S Parish, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Sexual Health Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

To review the current literature regarding sexual dysfunction and interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). Our goal was to review the epidemiology and overlap of these two conditions as well discuss the success of various IC/BPS treatment modalities with improving sexual function.

Recent Findings

Women with IC/BPS have a much higher incidence of sexual dysfunction as compared to controls, and this is often a significant predictor of poor quality of life. IC/BPS is thought to have various phenotypes and is associated with a number of overlapping chronic conditions which may contribute to sexual dysfunction thus making an accurate diagnosis imperative. Various treatments for IC/BPS may improve certain domains of sexual function.

Summary

It is not surprising that IC/BPS, a chronic pelvic pain condition, negatively affects sexual function. More research is needed not just on the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in this patient population, but specifically on treatment options and ways to improve sexual function in these distressed patients.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IntimMedicine Specialists, 1850 M Street Suite 450, Washington, DC, 20036, USA

    Rachel S. Rubin

  2. School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, 2300 I Street NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA

    Elizabeth Malphrus

Authors
  1. Rachel S. Rubin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rachel S. Rubin.

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Conflict of Interest

Rachel S. Rubin reports grants from Endoceutics, AbbVie Inc., GTx Inc., Bayer Healthcare LLC, and IPSEN, outside the submitted work; Elizabeth Malphrus declares no conflicts of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Medical Comorbidities

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Rubin, R.S., Malphrus, E. Interstitial Cystitis and Sexual Dysfunction: Diagnostic Accuracy Is Essential. Curr Sex Health Rep 10, 104–108 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-018-0162-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-018-0162-5

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