Is interstitial cystitis actually a chronic UTI?

Maybe you’ve been diagnosed with interstitial cystitis (IC) and told your bladder pain is a medical mystery, an incurable condition you’ll just have to learn to live with. But hear me out…

What if your pain isn’t a random, unexplained phenomenon? What if it’s a chronic urinary tract infection, one that standard urine tests don’t pick up?

So, let’s look into this. Is interstitial cystitis actually a chronic UTI?

The case for chronic UTI

When it comes to urinary tract infections (UTIs), we’ve been told it’s all very straightforward. Pee in a cup, get a positive result, take a few days of antibiotics, and that’s it, problem solved.

But for many, it’s not solved. The symptoms linger, they return and start to feel like a permanent part of our lives. I know this very well as I used to have recurrent UTIs for most of my twenties, and it honestly sucked. It’s exhausting to be vigilant about symptoms, thinking ahead to prevent flare-ups, and not being able to enjoy life like everyone else. 

So, here are a few reasons why your interstitial cystitis diagnosis may be a chronic UTI:

• Standard urine cultures often miss bacteria hiding in the bladder because the tests aren’t reliable.
• Some infections burrow deep into the bladder wall, evading detection and treatment, so you still experience symptoms.
• Interstitial cystitis and UTI symptoms are practically identical.
• Many people diagnosed with IC find relief with long-term, targeted antibiotics, suggesting a chronic infection that was never properly identified.

One study found that 74% of women diagnosed with IC had previously been diagnosed with recurrent UTIs. That’s not a coincidence. That’s a pattern. A sign that maybe IC is not a separate condition at all but the chronic, unresolved version of repeated UTIs.

So, there is enough evidence to suggest it’s possible that many women with interstitial cystitis may have an embedded, hidden infection in the bladder instead. If you want to learn more, I’ve done a deep dive into the complexities of chronic UTI, which you can read here.

Also, I want you to know that if your symptoms feel like a UTI that never fully goes away, you’re not alone. And you’re not broken. There is hope. 

Why it takes so long to get answers

On average, it takes 12 years to be diagnosed with chronic UTI because it’s often misdiagnosed, and doctors aren’t very aware of it as a real illness. That’s over a decade of confusion, pain, discomfort, ineffective treatments, and being told, “everything looks normal.“

Even once diagnosed, getting real help can still be a struggle. Long-term antibiotic treatment isn’t easy to access, and it doesn’t work for everyone. It also comes with its own set of challenges and side effects that can have a serious impact on your health.

But know this: wherever you are with your symptoms, healing is possible. Because our bodies are incredibly adaptable and can heal most illnesses when given a chance and a bit of support.

How I healed when nothing else worked

Homeopathy helped me heal my recurrent UTIs after years of being prescribed endless rounds of antibiotics and told I’d have to live with the frequent infections forever.

And here’s the beautiful thing: to heal with homeopathy, your diagnosis doesn’t matter.

You don’t have to wait for a specific label or a positive test result to start getting better. In homeopathy, we don’t treat “interstitial cystitis” or “UTI”, we treat you. Because IC or UTI, as an illness, can look very different depending on the individual.

The medicine is chosen based on who you are, how you experience your symptoms, and how your body expresses imbalance. That’s why it works so deeply, it meets you where you are.

Your body is not the enemy

If you feel like your body is failing you, I want you to know: it’s not. Your body is always protecting you. It wants you to be healthy, and your symptoms are evidence of this. 

• Your bladder feels inflamed because your body is flooding immune cells to the area to fight the bacteria.
• You feel fatigued, so you’re forced to rest, and your body can use the energy to fight the infection.
• You need to pee frequently so your body can flush out infected cells and bacteria from the bladder.

Your symptoms are not a sign of weakness or malfunction, they’re your body’s way of getting your attention. 

There is intelligence in the body. A wisdom that knows how to heal when given the right support. You don’t need to figure everything out on your own. And you don’t need to be fixed because you’re not broken.

Healing is possible.
If I’ve done it, anyone can do it.
And that includes you. ✨