What Is a Flare?

A flare is a temporary period of increased IC/BPS symptom severity, most commonly heightened pain intensity. Flare duration varies widely from person to person. Common triggers include stress, certain foods and drinks, and prolonged sitting. Tracking your personal triggers in a symptom diary can help you anticipate and prevent flares before they escalate.

Start treating a flare as soon as you feel it beginning. Early intervention often means a shorter, less intense episode. The longer a flare goes untreated, the more likely it is to build in intensity and require stronger interventions, from self-help therapies to prescribed oral or intravesical (instilled in the bladder) treatments.

Hydrate: Drink extra water to dilute urine concentration; this is especially helpful for diet-triggered flares.

Apply heat or cold: Place a heating pad, hot water bottle, or cold pack directly on the perineum (the area between the anus and vagina in women, or between the anus and base of the penis in men). Experiment to find what works best for you.

Take a warm sitz bath: Soak in shallow warm water, with or without Epsom salts, using a bathtub or a plastic sitz bath (available at drugstores) that fits over the toilet.

Relax the pelvic floor: Draw your knees to your chest, recline with legs spread, or adopt a squatting position to release pelvic floor tension.
Try a baking soda rinse. Mix one teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water to help reduce burning sensations. Check with your doctor first if you are on a salt-restricted diet.

Use your medications: If your provider prescribed flare-specific medicines (oral or intravesical), this is the time to use them as directed.

Could it be a UTI? If you suspect a urinary tract infection, contact your healthcare provider or use an at-home UTI test kit. A positive result warrants immediate medical treatment.

These techniques can help keep your bladder calm day-to-day and reduce the likelihood of a flare:

  • Practice relaxation techniques, meditation, or visualization
  • Learn self-hypnosis
  • Receive professional massage or learn self-massage
  • Work with a therapist to develop coping skills and stress reduction techniques
  • Build regular rest and downtime into your routine

Clothing

  • If a flare begins while you’re wearing pantyhose, tights, tight jeans, slimming undergarments, or any item restricting your waist and pelvic region, remove the offending garment immediately; sometimes that alone brings relief. Consider thigh-highs as an alternative to pantyhose.

Intimacy

  • For many people with IC/BPS, sexual activity can trigger a flare. Plan ahead:
    • Before: Take antispasmodic or pain-reducing medicines as recommended by your provider.
    • During: Use generous lubrication to reduce friction and discomfort.
    • After: Take a 20-minute sitz bath and apply an ice pack to the perineum for 20 minutes. This can help relieve the pain some people experience for a day or two following intercourse.

Travel

  • Bouncing and vibrations from cars, buses, trains, and planes can jar the pelvic region and trigger flares. Keep trips shorter during active flare periods and consider the following:
    • Sit on a cushion or pillow to absorb vibrations.
    • Plan your route around restroom locations; search online bathroom directories before departure.
    • For car travel, carry a portable potty, bedpan, or portable female urinal.
    • For air travel, arrange an aisle seat near the lavatories and consider restricting fluids before and during the flight if you are prone to frequency.
    • Absorbent pads (for women) or condom catheters (for men) can provide peace of mind on long trips with limited restroom access.
    • Avoid traveling during peak seasons when crowds and delays add unpredictability.

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