Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome is the most common form of a disease known generally as prostatitis, a prostate condition that affects about 50% of men at some point during their lifetime and causes a number of sexual health and other symptoms. Interstitial cystitis is inflammation of the bladder, and the majority of cases develop in women. Symptoms of interstitial cystitis bladder pain syndrome are similar to those of CP/CPPS, such as an urgent need to urinate, frequent need to urinate, and pain in the pelvic area.
A new study suggests that as many as 2 million men in the United States may experience symptoms of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) and that these conditions may go unrecognized and therefore untreated.
As part of the RAND Interstitial Cystitis Epidemiology (RICE) study, researchers at the University of Connecticut conducted a survey to determine the prevalence of IC/BPS and CP/CPPS in men. A total of 6,072 households were contacted, and of all the men interviewed, 97 were identified as having symptoms of interstitial cystitis, CP/CPPS, or both.
More specifically, 23% were believed to have IC/BPS, 16% had CP/CPPS, and 8% had both conditions. When these figures were applied to 2006 US census data, the investigators estimated that about 2 million men in the United States have symptoms of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and CP/CPPS. The study was presented at the American Urological Association annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.
Read more in our Prostatitis Health Center.
Reference
Cho S. IC/BPS, IC/CPPS widespread among men in the US. Renal & Urology News 2012 May 19
