Urogynecology
A urogynecologist is a physician who specializes in caring for women’s pelvic floor, urology, and pelvic problems. Urogynecology is a subspecialty, which means that doctors who are urogynecologists are specialists in this area and have more experience treating these conditions. If you have incontinence or prolapse issues that are affecting your quality of life, you should seek treatment from a urogynecologist. These disorders are not just a normal part of aging. A urogynecologist can help women find safe, effective options to help them regain their quality of life.
Common disorders treated by a urogynecologist include:
Incontinence – bladder and bowel control problems
Prolapse – weakening of the pelvic muscles that cause the internal organs to drop down
Emptying Disorders – difficulty voiding (going to the bathroom) and not being able to complete the void leaving urine in the bladder.
Pelvic Pain
Overactive Bladder – having a sudden urge and/or voiding frequently
Interstitial Cystitis – Painful Bladder Syndrome
Urogynecology Services & Conditions Treated
PFD’s (Pelvic Floor Disorders)
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Stress Urinary Incontinence
Urge Incontinence
Fecal Incontinence
Interstitial Cystitis
Overactive Bladder Syndrome
Voiding Dysfunction
Urogynecology Procedures
Complex Multichannel Urodynamics Testing
Pessary Fitting
Surgical & non-surgical treatment for Stress Urinary Incontinence
Midurethral sling
Urethral bulking
In-office Cystoscopy
Bladder Botox
Surgical Procedures for Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Anterior or posterior colporrhaphy
Robotic Sacrocolpopexy and sacrohysteropexy
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The pelvic floor muscles do more than just hold your pelvic organs in place—they also allow you to control your bowel and bladder movements. When these muscles become weak or damaged, it may result in a condition called pelvic floor dysfunction. Pregnancy and childbirth are the most common risk factors for developing pelvic floor dysfunction. Other possible causes for this condition include traumatic injuries or accidents to the pelvic area, irritable bowel syndrome, habitual heavy lifting, nerve disorder in the pelvic region, and genetic predisposition.
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Your pelvic organs (bladder, urethra, uterus, vagina, small bowel, and rectum) are held in place by a group of muscles and connective tissue ligaments that form the pelvic floor inside your abdomen. When these muscles are injured, stretched, or weakened, one or more of the pelvic organs can “prolapse”, or descend out of place. This can cause discomfort, inconvenience, and sometimes pain, depending on the severity.
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The condition of unintentional leaking of urine or stool is called incontinence, which can impact the quality of your daily life. Fortunately, incontinence can be treated, managed, and even reversed in some cases, depending on the severity and the underlying cause.
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Overactive Bladder (OAB) is a grouping of symptoms that include sudden strong urges to urinate, urinary urge incontinence, and simply feeling like "you have to go" several times throughout the day and night. OAB can have a tremendous impact on quality of life, with frequent trips to the bathroom interrupting your day and taking up valuable time.
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Fecal incontinence refers to problems associated with bowel control, specifically the inability to restrict a bowel movement before reaching a restroom. Your risk of experiencing fecal incontinence increases if you suffer from chronic bowel issues (such as habitual constipation or diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, etc.), or sustain pelvic muscle or nerve damage, or have pelvic floor dysfunction.
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Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can occur when bacteria enters and proliferates in the
bladder or kidneys. The signs of a UTI include:
Pain or discomfort during urination
Bloody or cloudy urine
The urge to urinate even when your bladder is empty
Pain in your lower back (kidneys) or pain in the pelvic region (bladder)
Treatment usually involves a short course of antibiotics, though this can be problematic with recurrent or chronic UTIs. In rare cases, frequent antibiotic use can lead to growth of bacteria that are resistant to certain types of antibiotics. At Cookeville Gynecology & Urogynecology we utilize a combination of PCR and P-AST™ testing that allows for more informed treatment decisions.