Methods for diagnosing a pelvic pain disorder that include analyzing samples for increased levels and/or nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin, which indicates presence of the pelvic pain disorder, particularly interstitial cystitis. Therapeutic treatment of a pelvic pain disorder, particularly interstitial cystitis, includes the administration to a patient of an effective amount of an inhibitor of beta-catenin activity. This can be carried out by direct administration of the therapeutic agent or via gene therapy.