The Pelvic Health Center at UC Health
Both men and women have a pelvic floor. In both sexes, the pelvic floor is the muscles, ligaments, connective tissues and nerves supporting the pelvic organs such as the bladder and rectum. In women, the pelvic organs also include the uterus and vagina.
UC Health understands the sensitivity and quality-of-life issues surrounding these conditions, and that is why we are committed to patient-focused, compassionate, evidence-based care.
The Pelvic Health Center at UC Health is the region’s only pelvic floor and incontinence center staffed by fellowship-trained urogynecologists from both gynecology and urology. Equipped to deliver the highest level of care, our subspecialists received additional training to diagnose and treat women with pelvic floor disorders. By combining into one center, gynecologists and urologists with this specialized training can address a broader range of issues.
The Academic Difference
The academic environment at UC Health allows for collaboration across multidisciplinary specialties and guides us in designing effective plans for even the most persistent and hard-to-treat cases.
Our urogynecology specialists work with a team of experts from other specialties, including colorectal surgery or gastroenterology, to give patients the chance to enjoy all that life has to offer.
Many factors can contribute to pelvic floor disorders, including vaginal childbirth, pregnancy, cancer, menopause, genetics, smoking, age and race. Women who are overweight or obese also have a greater risk for pelvic floor disorders. Because no single, best treatment exists, UC Health specialists evaluate the whole person, not just the disease or complication.
Signs and Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
- Bladder and bowel leakage.
- Urinary problems, such as an urgent need to urinate, painful urination or incomplete bladder emptying.
- A heavy feeling in the pelvis or a bulge in the vagina or rectum.
- Straining, pain or incomplete evacuation during bowel movements.
- Pain or pressure in the vagina or rectum.
- Painful sexual intercourse.
Evaluation Options
We use routine and advanced evaluation methods to design the most effective treatment option including:
- Clinical evaluation of pelvic floor and advanced gynecologic problems.
- Office cystoscopy.
- Office hysteroscopy.
- Urodynamics and video-urodynamics.
- Pelvic floor ultrasound and fluoroscopic examinations.
- MRI.
Pelvic Floor Conditions We Treat
- Pelvic organ prolapse, including recurrent prolapse or complications of past repairs.
- Urinary incontinence.
- Recurrent bladder infections and bladder pain disorders.
- Complex reconstructive pelvic floor surgery.
- Neurogenic bladder.
- Complex perineal lacerations.
- Congenital anomalies of the genitourinary tract.
- Vulvar disorders.
- Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery.
General Treatment Approaches
Surgical Therapy
Vaginal and laparoscopic surgical procedures
Native tissue repairs performed either through the vagina or abdomen can be done to address pelvic organ prolapse or urinary incontinence. Likewise, mesh-augmented repairs performed through the vagina or abdominal can be done. A shared decision-making approach is used to help each woman decide which approach best fits her treatment goals.
Office-based procedures
Injections into the bladder through a cystoscope for bladder overactivity or urinary incontinence are examples of office-based surgical procedures.
Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery
Nonsurgical Therapy
Pessaries
The pessary is a silicon device inserted into the vagina to support the pelvic organs. The pessary can be an effective, nonsurgical option for a variety of pelvic floor disorders. Use of pessaries for a given pelvic floor condition can be for the short or long term.
Medical Management
Medications can be prescribed for some pelvic floor problems (e.g., urinary frequency).
Physical therapy
Physical therapy specifically designed for women with pelvic floor disorders can also be effective in managing the condition.
*Offered at all three UC Health physical therapy sites (Hoxworth, Daniel Drake Center and West Chester Hospital).
Watchful Waiting
Watchful waiting may be a reasonable option for some women. A significant number of women having less than perfect vaginal support do not experience vaginal bulge symptoms and only became aware of the condition during a regular health checkup. For such women, watchful waiting can be an appropriate approach to address the condition.
If you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our urogynecology providers, please call 513-475-UC4U (8248).
Staff
Click Here to find a urogynecology provider.
Location
UC Health Women’s Center
UC Health Physicians Office-West Chester (South)
7675 Wellness Way, Suite 460
West Chester, Ohio 45069