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I suffer from several bladder infections each year. Could I have a problem with my bladder?

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a painful inflammatory condition of the bladder wall. Approximately 700,000 Americans have IC and of those, 90 percent are women. The symptoms include frequent, painful voiding of small amounts of urine. Pain, pressure or spasms may accompany voiding. The urinary frequency and the pain with voiding can lead a woman to believe that she has a bladder infection. Women with IC may experience pain in the pelvic region or pain with sexual intercourse. IC is diagnosed by looking directly into the bladder with a device called a cystoscope. The wall of the bladder may look very thin and ulcerated. Treatment of IC can involve dietary changes or medications. Foods with caffeine, alcohol, artificial sweeteners and citrus juices may cause a flare of symptoms. Various medications taken by mouth can relieve the symptoms of IC. Some medications can be instilled into the bladder to induce long-term relief of the symptoms.