Finally - a Real Study on IC and Related Conditions
After all these years, researchers are finally admitting that there are numerous symptoms that intertwine with Interstitial Cystitis, and now, a five year study is being funding by several of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The full-scale, multi-year study will begin in 2008 and will receive a total of $7.5 million.
The name of the program is the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network. Some of the conditions covered are chronic pelvic pain syndromes associated with the bladder and prostate gland, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome.
It is possible (and I sure hope so) that vulvodynia and migraine may be included. To read more about this study, click here to read the ICA newsletter.
As a footnote, Dr. Echenberg plans to apply to participate in this study. These are the very issues suffered by his patients. Dr. E has also worked with male patients who experience pelvic pain.