What is Interstitial Cystitis?

Interstitial Cystitis (IC), is a chronic condition causing bladder pressure, bladder pain, and sometimes pelvic pain, and - it is something we get asked about a lot. Namely, can Silky Peach help with IC?

Our response? YES! IC is a disease of undetermined cause; however, inflammation is thought to be a key player.

Can Your Prove It?

This study found that, “there was a significant positive effect of local estrogen therapy on urinary and sexual function following 12 weeks, as well as an improvement of vaginal health. The results of this open study indicate that 12 weeks of local estriol cream at vaginal and vestibular-level may ameliorate urinary/bladder pain symptoms, and may improve sexual function. The association between vulvar pain and bladder pain could, therefore, be related to a vaginal environment carrying signs of hypoestrogenism, (too little estrogen) but further studies are needed to clarify this issue.”

Um... What?!

Now, if you don’t have a degree in biochem, here is what that means in people-ese. The cells in the pelvis, around the bladder, the vagina, and the whole perineum have lots of receptors for estrogen. If the body puts receptors there, then estrogen will have a necessary effect on those cells. Estrogen is important for keeping cells healthy, for building their ability to fight bacterial invaders, and have a strong immune function. As estrogen drops at menopause and beyond, we no longer have the supply of estrogen to help those cells to stay healthy. This often results in low grade chronic infections in the vagina, the bladder, and the urethra. The pH level in these areas starts to rise and that increases the chance that bacteria can take hold, which contributes further to the inflammation.

What can trigger or flare bladder/vaginal pain?

A lot of things can light the fuse on bladder and vulvovaginal pain — sometimes it’s obvious, sometimes it’s sneaky. Common triggers to call out:

• Irritants and chemicals: scented soaps, bubble baths, feminine wipes, fragranced laundry detergents, and some topical products can inflame sensitive tissues.
• Sexual activity or certain lubricants: friction, repeated intercourse, or irritating lubricants can provoke pain.
• Antibiotics and microbiome hits: antibiotics (and sometimes heavy douching) can disturb protective Lactobacillus populations and let nastier microbes or inflammation take hold.
• Hormone changes: falling estrogen in perimenopause/menopause thins tissues and reduces natural lubrication and glycogen — that makes the area more vulnerable to irritation and pain.
• Dietary triggers: for many people certain foods/drinks worsen bladder pain (see next section).
• Pelvic floor dysfunction: tight or poorly coordinated pelvic floor muscles can amplify bladder and vulvar pain and make symptoms persist even after the original trigger is gone.
• Stress and sleep loss: nervous-system hypervigilance and poor sleep increase pain sensitivity — the brain gets crankier about peripheral sensations.
  Tip: symptoms often result from several factors stacking up, not a single cause.

Foods and drinks that commonly flare bladder pain — and what may help

Some people with bladder sensitivity find that certain foods and beverages reliably make symptoms worse. Try a short elimination trial (a week or two) to see what affects you — individual patterns matter. Common offenders:

• Caffeine (coffee, black tea, energy drinks) — bladder stimulator.
• Alcohol — a diuretic and irritant.
• Citrus and acidic foods — oranges, tomatoes, vinegar-based dressings.
• Spicy foods — can irritate the bladder lining.
• Artificial sweeteners and some carbonated drinks — reported by some patients to worsen urgency/pain.

How interstitial/bladder pain differs from a UTI or an STD

• UTI (urinary tract infection)
  • Usually has positive urine culture showing bacteria.
  • Often sudden onset with burning during urination, high urgency, and sometimes fever.
  • Improves quickly with appropriate antibiotics.
• STD (sexually transmitted infection)
  • May cause discharge, localized ulceration, unusual odor, or specific test-positive findings (chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomonas, herpes, etc.).
  • Diagnosed with targeted swabs or blood tests and treated with specific antimicrobials.
• Interstitial cystitis / bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) or chronic pelvic pain related to GSM
  • Often chronic (months to years), sterile urine cultures (no simple bug to treat), and symptoms can wax and wane.
  • Pain is often related to bladder filling, sexual activity, or pelvic floor tension; urgency is common but not always due to infection.
  • Does not reliably respond to antibiotics; management focuses on symptom control, pelvic health, and treating local tissue vulnerability (for example, with local estrogen if menopause-related changes are present).

How Does Estriol Help?

Applied inside the vagina, low-dose estriol helps rebuild the lining and restore glycogen, so the environment becomes more acidic again and protective Lactobacillus are more likely to return. That repair process lowers local inflammation, improves tissue resilience, and can reduce both vaginal and nearby bladder pain for many people — which is exactly why clinicians see benefit in some patients with IC-type symptoms. (Yes, it can sting at first; that’s usually inflammation settling down.)

Using estriol cream - such as Silky Peach - can gradually rebuild the amount of estriol in the whole area. A good analogy is that of a sponge; imagine a dried out sponge that gets a drop of water added every day, eventually it will swell back up. Thus, with levels of estriol increased, the body has a better ability to fight off infection.

The cream may have a stinging sensation to begin with; this is because the skin is likely raw and inflamed and adding anything will sting, no matter what. Over time, the cells will rejuvenate. The acidity will increase again (a good thing) and the ability of the body to overcome infection will be improved. There are other steps you can take to help ensure you have healthy inner skin – read our Top tips for your ladybits.

We will add - if the stinging does not clear up - it’s time for a heart to heart with your doctor about some prescription strength estriol solutions to get you past the worst of it before carrying on with a regular therapeutic treatment...like Silky Peach!