"I can't enjoy my full sex life": Understanding the sexual experiences of women with interstitial cystitis.

Women who complain of bladder pain and urinary urgency and frequency wait years to receive the label of interstitial cystitis (IC), an "orphan disease" which has no known cause or cure. The current research used phenomenological research methods to understand the experiences of women who have IC as they affect their sexualities. Ten women with IC participated in individual, semi-structured interviews. Nine themes emerged from the interviews. Findings indicated that women who have IC experienced severely limited sexual relationships, negative physician-patient interactions, the necessity for self-management of symptoms and diminished quality of life. Their accounts underscore the profound impact IC has on sexuality, revealing how sexual experiences are deeply intertwined with the emotional, physical and medical challenges of the condition. These findings contribute to a deepened understanding of the experiences of women who have IC and help to increase physicians' understanding and awareness of the sexual effects that accompany IC.