Although Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome can affect people of all ages, it’s much more common in women than men, usually over the age of 30.
Symptoms begin before age 30 in most, but an Interstitial Cystitis diagnosis is often not made until much later. Interstitial cystitis begins with mild symptoms usually frequency or urgency that is slowly and insidiously progressive. Pain is often a later symptom.
I found the different stages of Interstitial Cystitis in an article – see below.
Stages of Interstitial Cystitis
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a long-lasting bladder condition. Symptoms can come and go. Some days feel better, and other days feel worse. These changes are called flares and remissions.
Mild Stage
Interstitial cystitis often starts with small and unclear symptoms. This can make it hard to know what is wrong at first. People may need to urinate more often and feel mild bladder pain sometimes. During flare-ups, sexual activity may feel uncomfortable. Symptoms usually start slowly and do not last very long in this stage.
Moderate Stage
As interstitial cystitis gets worse, symptoms happen more often. People may feel the need to urinate every hour and feel a strong urge to go. Pain can come on suddenly and feel stronger. Sexual activity may cause painful flare-ups that last several days or even two weeks. Pressure or pain may be felt in the bladder or pelvic area. Many people see a doctor during this stage.
Severe Stage
In the severe stage, flare-ups happen often and may last weeks or months. Sexual activity can be very painful and cause strong flare-ups. Symptoms become serious, and some people may have trouble holding their urine. Women may notice worse symptoms before or during their menstrual cycle. The bladder may hold less urine because of damage to the bladder wall. Pain can become so strong that it affects daily life.
Sources
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4708543/
https://www.painscale.com/article/stages-of-interstitial-cystitis-ic
TREATING INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS 