YOU HAVE
A frequent need to urinate; pelvic pain

Ask your doctor about interstitial cystitis (IC)
You have the telltale signs of a urinary tract infection, yet no amount of antibiotics seems to do any good. Sound familiar? You may be one of the million Americans suffering from IC (also called painful bladder syndrome). "This condition may be caused by a small hole in the protective lining of the bladder that allows toxic substances in urine to seep out and irritate the outside of the bladder," says Kristene Whitmore, M.D., chief of urology at the Drexel College of Medicine. A urologist can perform a cytoscopy, a procedure that uses a tiny camera to examine the inside of your bladder for IC-related hemorrhages.

WHAT CAN HELP
Unfortunately, there's no simple cure for IC; most sufferers try a combination of treatments. Antidepressants, such as Prozac or Zoloft, can soothe the inflamed bladder wall, while Elmiron—the only oral pill approved for IC—can help it heal. And the latest research shows that the antiwrinkle treatment Botox is also effective: Two studies found that an injection of this muscle-relaxing filler in the bladder reduced pain and urinary frequency for up to six months.

Physical therapy and biofeedback, in which a computer monitors your vaginal contractions, can help you learn how to relax your vaginal muscles during spasms.

YOU HAVE
Vaginal itching; milky discharge; a fishy odor

Ask your about doctor bacterial vaginosis (BV)
One in five women who purchased an over-the-counter yeast infection remedy actually had BV, finds a study from the Medical College of Georgia. Caused by an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria in the vagina, this condition strikes 3 million women a year. "Having the infection, which weakens your vagina's natural protective barrier, can raise your risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea," says Jeanne Marrazzo, M.D., an associate professor of medicine at the University of Washington.

WHAT CAN HELP
See your gynecologist, who may prescribe a course of antibiotics.