The etiology of pain in women with IC is often difficult to identify resulting in unnecessary medical and surgical treatments (e.g. hysterectomies). The vulva may actually be the site of some of the reported pain in women with IC, not the urethra or bladder. IC and vulvodynia can impact one's sexual functioning and diminish one's quality of life. Unfortunately, vulvodynia is often unrecognized since it is not part of the usual urological assessment with IC patients.