I want to raise awareness for another condition that I don't believe was mentioned that can cause pelvic pain in men OR women. It is called PUDENDAL NEURALGIA OR PUDENDAL NERVE ENTRAPMENT and it involves the pudendal nerve, which travels throughout the pelvis and can affect every bodily function in the pelvis: bowels, bladder, and intercourse. I, too, was originally diagnoses with IC, and while this is a very troublesome condition, it was all that was going on. Symptoms of IC are very similiar when this nerve is affected. I had/have urgency, frequency, etc. and tested postitive to the potassium test. Elmiron did nothing for me.

A simple test can clue you in to if you might have it: if you have a burning, stabbing, or aching pain when you sit, try sitting on a toilet seat to see if it improves. In some severe cases, it doesn't. But sitting on a toilet seat usually takes pressure off this nerve in the sitting position. If it is not too severly damaged, it also feels better to stand or lay down.

PN affects my ability to have sex without pain, has robbed me of the ability to have an orgasm, ride a bike, sit in church and a million other activities. BUT NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT IT!!! I was originally diagnosed with Vulvodynia as well, but then the pain started spreading to my perineum and buttocks.

If you have any questions or you want more information, please contact me or google 'pudendal neuralgia.' It is commonly called cyclists' syndrome, as professional bikers often suffer from it when long hours on the bike seat crush the nerve. It can also be caused by childbirth, weightlifting or anatomical abnormalities, etc.

adambeth.gamble@comcast.net