Pts perceive pain as coming from the urinary bladder if it is suprapubic in location, alters with bladder filling or emptying, and/or is associated with urinary symptoms such as urgency and frequency.

• Bladder pain occurring acutely (i.e., lasting ≤2 days) is helpful in distinguishing bacterial cystitis from lower genital tract infections.
• Chronic or recurrent bladder pain may accompany lower urinary tract stones, pelvic cancers, urethral diverticulum, cystitis induced by radiation or certain medications, tuberculous cystitis, bladder neck obstruction, neurogenic bladder, urogenital prolapse, or benign prostatic hyperplasia. The diagnosis of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome should be considered in pts who do not have one of these conditions.