Urinary Incontinence
Women affected by pelvic floor disorders—such as stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse—are often referred to urogynecologists, who have received highly specialized training in treatment of pelvic floor disorders. These specialists can also help women who are in need of specialized care for complications stemming from vaginal mesh.
Pelvic floor disorders occur when the pelvic floor is weakened because of childbirth, obesity, surgery, disease or even repetitive heavy lifting. Many women experience incontinence and pelvic pain due to pelvic floor disorders. Women may also experience difficulty emptying the bladder or bowels and pelvic organ —the dropping of pelvic organs from their normal position.
Depending upon the severity of symptoms, non-surgical therapies are usually the first approach used in the treatment of pelvic floor disorders. These include medications, pelvic muscle exercise, lifestyle and diet changes, vaginal support devices, and electric stimulation of pelvic floor muscles. If these methods don’t improve symptoms, surgical options are explored.
While many primary care physicians and gynecologists are knowledgeable about pelvic floor disorders, a urogynecologist holds an additional level of expertise in the treatment of these issues. Their special expertise in vaginal surgery can minimize the risk of complications. Women may need to see a urogynecologist when they experience incontinence, pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction.
For many women suffering these complications, a urogynecologist needs to remove the transvaginal mesh implant to restore health and quality of life. Mesh is intended to be a permanent surgical implant and can be very difficult to remove. The skill of a urogynecologist can increase the chances of successful revision surgery and decrease the risk of multiple procedures being necessary to repair the damage done by the mesh.
Information based on The American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) – http://www.augs.org/. Accessed 11/2/2015.
Related blog posts
How to Prevent UTIs
Burning, urgency to pee, frequent urination, low back pain. Symptoms of urinary tract infections (UTIs) are painful and annoying, especially if you experience them frequently. Caused by bacteria, women are more likely to have them because bacteria from stools can come...
Women’s Secret Health Concerns
"Do other women feel pain during sex?" "Should I be worried that I am bleeding so heavily?" "Is this normal?" "Am I normal?" Although these are common questions, many women are unwilling to discuss them with their doctors. Health concerns can range from quirks—is it...
Taking “You” out of UTI
Ouch! You feel like you’re peeing a stream of fire. Or you feel like you have to urinate all the time, but little comes out. What’s going on? When germs get into your urinary tract, they cause an infection called a urinary tract infection (UTI). What is a Urinary...
Douching: Do You or Don’t You?
You shower, put on deodorant, and change your underwear daily, just like your mother taught you. But should you do more? About one in four women in the U.S. add douching to their personal hygiene routine. The women claim that it makes them feel fresh, gets rid of...
Why Should I Do Kegels?
You’ve heard of Kegel exercises, but what do they do exactly? And, how important are they? These simple exercises can be one of your best defenses against incontinence and prolapse. Kegels strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, which control urine, hold your pelvic...
Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) – 101
What is a UTI? A UTI is an infection in the urinary tract. Infections are caused by microbes—organisms too small to be seen without a microscope. Bacteria are the most common cause of UTIs. Normally, bacteria that enter the urinary tract are quickly removed by the...
Urinary Incontinence: Types and Treatments
Nothing is worse than sneezing and wetting your pants in public. Okay, there are things worse than that, but it is embarrassing and inconvenient at least. Urinary incontinence — the loss of bladder control — is a common and often embarrassing problem. The severity...