Although the cause of interstitial cystitis (IC) remains unknown, certain factors may predispose individuals and increase their risk of developing the condition. These include:

• Gender. Women are far more likely to develop IC than men. In fact, 90 percent of IC cases in the United States affect women, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
  
  
• Age. The majority of IC patients are diagnosed in their 30s or 40s, but the condition can occur in children.
  
  
• History of urinary tract infection (UTI). Patients with IC often have a history of recurrent UTIs in childhood.
  
  
• Heredity. Although IC does not commonly run in families, there have been some cases in which immediate family members also had the condition.
  
  
• Other chronic disorders. Recent research indicates that IC may be associated with the following conditions in some individuals, although the connection between these disorders is unknown:
  
  
• • Endometriosis. A condition in which the cells that line the uterus (endometrium) are found outside the uterus. It can cause chronic pain and fertility  problems in women.
    
    
  • Fibromyalgia. A condition characterized by fatigue, tenderness in specific body sites and chronic pain in the soft tissues that surround the joints.
    
    
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). An intestinal disorder associated with abdominal pain, cramping, gas, bloating and changes in bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhea.
    
    
  • Vulvodynia. A condition characterized by pain in the area of and surrounding the vulva, and at times the vaginal area.