This sourcebook has been created for patients who have decided to make education and Internet-based research an integral part of the treatment process. Although it gives information useful to doctors, caregivers and other health professionals, it also tells patients where and how to look for information covering virtually all topics related to interstitial cystitis, from the essentials to the most advanced areas of research. The title of this book includes the word official. This reflects the fact that the sourcebook draws from public, academic, government, and peer-reviewed research. Selected readings from various agencies are reproduced to give you some of the latest official information available to date on interstitial cystitis. Following an introductory chapter, the sourcebook is organized into three parts. PART I: THE ESSENTIALS; Chapter 1. The Essentials on Interstitial Cystitis: Guidelines; Chapter 2. Seeking Guidance; Chapter 3. Clinical Trials and Interstitial Cystitis; PART II: ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND ADVANCED MATERIAL; Chapter 4. Studies on Interstitial Cystitis; Chapter 5. Patents on Interstitial Cystitis; Chapter 6. Books on Interstitial Cystitis; Chapter 7. Multimedia on Interstitial Cystitis; Chapter 8. Periodicals and News on Interstitial Cystitis; Chapter 9. Physician Guidelines and Databases; Chapter 10. Dissertations on Interstitial Cystitis; PART III. APPENDICES; Appendix A. Researching Your Medications; Appendix B. Researching Alternative Medicine; Appendix C. Researching Nutrition; Appendix D. Finding Medical Libraries; Appendix E. Your Rights and Insurance; ONLINE GLOSSARIES; INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS GLOSSARY; INDEX. Related topics include: Hunner's Patch, Hunner'sUlcer, Painful bladder syndrome, Pelvic Pain Syndrome, Trigonitis, Urethral Syndrome, Urgency frequency syndrome.