What are the causes of IC/BPS?
No one knows what causes IC/BPS. The following factors may play a role in IC/BPS: • A defect in the bladder wall that allows substances in the urine to irritate the bladder. • A specific type of cell that releases histamine (HISS-tuh-meen) (chemical released during an allergic reaction) and other chemicals, which lead to symptoms of IC/BPS. • Something in the urine that damages the bladder. • Changes in the nerves that carry bladder sensations, making normal events, such as bladder filling, painful. • The body’s immune system attacks the bladder. It’s hard to know if some of these factors actually cause IC/BPS or are part of the process that leads to IC/BPS. Also, the causes of IC/BPS in some people may be different than the causes in other people with IC/BPS. Studies of people who have IC/BPS suggest that it sometimes develops after an injury to the bladder, such as an infection. Genes also may play a role in some forms of IC/BPS. In some cases, IC/BPS affects both a mother and daught
