Urogynecology Specialist

What’s urogynecology?

Urogynecology is a field of medicine that focuses on diagnosing and treating disorders that affect the pelvic floor. Common disorders that involve the pelvic floor include urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.

What’s the pelvic floor?

The pelvic floor is the group of muscles, connective tissues, ligaments, and nerves responsible for providing support to the uterus, vagina, bladder, and rectum. When the pelvic floor doesn’t function properly, patients may experience problems with 1 or more of these organs.

What’s urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence occurs when the patient isn’t able to control the flow of urine from the bladder and the body. This can lead to leakage during coughing, sneezing, or laughing. In some cases, women may not be able to control their bladders at all.

What’s pelvic organ prolapse?

Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when 1 or more of the pelvic organs fall from their original location and put pressure on the other organs. Pelvic organ prolapse is most common after surgery or childbirth.

While some women with pelvic organ prolapse may not experience any symptoms, others notice a feeling of pressure inside the vagina. Some women may even feel like their organs are falling out of the body. Other symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse include vaginal bleeding or spotting, constipation, urinary incontinence, and pain during sex.

What treatments are available for pelvic floor problems?

Several treatments are available for patients with pelvic floor problems. Women with pelvic floor disorders may benefit from doing Kegel exercises on a regular basis to strengthen the muscles in this region. If the problem is too serious to be resolved with exercises, Capital Women's Care recommends an insert designed to provide support to the organs in this area. In extreme cases, the doctor may recommend surgery to patients with pelvic floor issues.

Can patients prevent pelvic floor problems?

The risk of pelvic floor disorders increases with age. Women prevent problems by avoiding constipation, maintaining a healthy weight, and keeping the pelvic floor muscles strong. To strengthen muscles in the pelvic floor, women should perform Kegel exercises daily.