Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome in Men.

Abstract

Aims: In April 2025, the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine hosted a Global Consensus meeting on interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) in Winston-Salem, NC. The goal of this meeting was to establish attainable targets in phenotyping, diagnosis, and biomarkers for IC/BPS. Our subcommittee focused on developing a consensus document addressing IC/BPS in men.

Methods: Narrative review.

Results: Within this document, we discuss prevalence, clinical characteristics, evaluation/investigation, and treatment of IC/BPS in men. The is limited literature specifically addressing IC/BPS within the male population, as IC/BPS has traditionally been considered a disease of women. Thus, prevalence data varies widely. Diagnosis of IC/BPS in men is fraught with difficulty, as there is much overlap with other chronic pelvic pain syndrome, specifically chronic prostatitis. Key clinical features specific to IC/BPS are pain with bladder filling and relief with voiding. Painful ejaculation may be indicative of pelvic floor dysfunction. Physical exam, including extensive pelvic exam with analysis of pelvic floor tenderness, is critical in correct diagnosis. Ultrasound +/- urodynamics may be used to rule out obstructive disease, and urinalysis +/- culture must be used to rule out infection. There are no treatments specific to men with IC/BPS.

Conclusions: We have described the prevalence, clinical characteristics, evaluation, and treatment of IC/BPS in men. There is a significant need for more sex-specific research of IC/BPS with consideration for hormonal and anatomical factors that may differentiate the disease in men.

Clinical trial registration: No new data were generated for this manuscript; no clinical trial was conducted.