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Read MoreYour pelvic floor muscles support a number of muscles and organs in your pelvic region, including your bladder, urethra, vagina, uterus, cervix, intestines, rectum and anus. Keeping your pelvic floor muscles healthy is key to ensuring your body is functioning at its best and you’re maintaining your quality of life.
What are Pelvic Floor Disorders?
There are a number of disorders that can occur in and around the pelvic floor, including sagging of the organs, weakening of the pelvic muscles and connective tissues, and problems with bowel and bladder function.
Disorders related to the pelvic floor include:
- Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction: an inability to relax and contract your pelvic floor muscles
- Pelvic organ prolapse (cystocele, rectocele, uterine or vaginal vault prolapse): when pelvic organs or floor become weak or loose and drop or press into your vagina
- Rectovaginal or vesicovaginal fistula: an abnormal connection between your vagina and your bladder, urethra or rectum
- Fecal incontinence: an inability to control bowel movements
- Overactive bladder
What are the symptoms of Pelvic Floor Disorders?
Symptoms of pelvic floor disorders vary depending on the type of condition you’re experiencing, but may include:
- Inability to control bowel movements or urination
- Constipation or inability to empty the bladder completely
- A feeling of aching, pulling or a bulge in the lower abdomen
- A feeling of heaviness or fullness in the vagina or rectum
- Pain during sexual intercourse
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, be sure to make an appointment with your primary care or OB/GYN provider, who will determine if a referral to a urogynecologist is needed.
How are Pelvic Floor Disorders Diagnosed?
Depending on your symptoms, your health care provider may use a number of tests to diagnose your pelvic floor disorder, including a physical exam, pelvic imaging and urine testing. These tests may also include a pelvic ultrasound or MRI of the pelvis to rule out structural etiologies, a cystoscopy, a test that enables physicians to look for inflammation, stones or tumors in the bladder. And Urogynecologists may offer urodynamics, a combination of tests used together to evaluate how the urethra and bladder are functioning while your prolapse is reduced.
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How are Pelvic Floor Disorders Treated?
Behavioral Therapy
Behavioral therapy is a safe way to learn lifestyle modifications that can help your pelvic floor function better, including pelvic muscle training, bladder training, relaxation exercises and fluid or diet modifications.
Surgery
Surgery for pelvic floor disorders can include slings for stress urinary incontinence, sacral nerve stimulation for urge urinary incontinence, overactive bleeding, interstitial cystitis and open, vaginal, or robotic assisted laparoscopic surgery to treat prolapse and other urogynecologic conditions.
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Devices and Medications
Devices such as pessaries, which are used to support the vagina, uterus,/cervix, or rectum, can provide a safe alternative to surgery. Medications are available to help with symptoms of a variety of urogynecologic conditions as well. Patients with certain urogyn conditions may also qualify for botox injection into the bladder, urethral bulking in the urethra, percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation, or trial of percutaneous nerve evaluation for the sacral nerve modulation in the office.
Our Approach to Pelvic Floor Disorders
Inspira’s urogynecologists are trained in the most up-to-date treatment methods for pelvic floor disorders, including vaginal, laparoscopic and robotic surgery. Whether you’re looking for help training your pelvic floor muscles or seeking a permanent solution for urinary incontinence, we’re here to address your needs. And with several locations across South Jersey, you won’t have to travel far for care.
