Pelvic problems such as Incontinence and Pelvic Organ Prolapse are more common than most people think - in fact, an estimated 8-10 million women are currently coping with mild to moderate incontinence, and 40% of women over 18 suffer from pelvic organ prolapsed. And, those numbers increase as a woman ages.
As common as they are, many women suffering from these conditions have feelings of shame, embarrassment and isolation. While women are much more likely to experience these problems, men can also be affected.
At Mission Hospital we have a team of physican specialists and subspecialists in gynecology, urogynecology and urology, and nurses specifically trained in pelvic floor conditions, who work together to offer a wide variety of diagnosis and treatment options, including physical therapy, as well as nonsurgical and surgical interventions.
If you would like more information on the Pelvic Floor Program at Mission Hospital please call 828-213-8244.
Common Pelvic Floor Conditions
Mission's Pelvic Floor Program focuses on common and complex pelvic floor issues. Two of the most common conditions are Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Organ Prolapse.
Urinary Incontinence
Urinary Incontinence, the loss of bladder and/or bowel control, affects almost 50 percent of all women at some point during their lifetime. Three common conditions are stress incontinence, urge incontinence, and overflow incontinence. The main causes of urinary incontinence include:
- Vaginal childbirth, especially multiple deliveries
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- High impact exercise and heavy lifting
- Hysterectomy
- Smoking
- Several medications can also trigger or worsen incontinence, such as
- Certain high blood pressure medicines
- Some antidepressants
- Diuretics (such as caffeine)
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Pelvic Organ Prolapse is the weakening or breaking of the support structures for the pelvic organs. There are four common types of prolapse: Rectocele, Cystocele, Enterocele, and Prolapsed uterus. The main causes of pelvic organ prolapse include:
- Vaginal childbirth, especially multiple deliveries
- Menopause
- Hysterectomy
- Advanced age
- Obesity
- Strenuous physical activity
- Prior pelvic surgery
Mission's multi-disciplinary team works together to develop a care plan for Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Organ Prolapse. There are a number of available treatment options including physical therapy, which tends to be a less invasive, more conservative approach. Other treatments include:
- Biofeedback
- Medication
- Urinary control devices
- Surgery
We also rely on the depth of expertise and experience among the various specialist and subspecialists throughout Mission Hospital. Our team of subspecialists and nurses trained in complex pelvic floor issues work seamlessly with the team from various departments to provide top quality, fully integrated care to our patients.
Complex Pelvic Floor Issues
At Mission we understand that some pelvic problems are more complex and require additional care. Our team at Mission's Pelvic Floor Program is trained to deal with a variety of complex surgical situations including:
- Mesh material within the bladder
- Genito-urinary fistulas (Abnormal connections between the bladder and the vagina which lead to continuous urine leakage)
- Ureteral injuries or strictures (abnormal contraction of a passage or duct of the body)
- Urethral diverticulum (a localized outpouching of the urethra into the vaginal wall)
For example, we work closely with our neurology department when conditions such as Urinary Incontinence are caused by neurological diseases. Stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, Parkinson's disease and other neurologic disorders often contribute to bladder control problems. Frequent bladder problems associated with neurologic disorders include:
- Frequent need to empty your bladder
- Urgent need to empty bladder that cannot be delayed
- Loss of control of the urge to urinate
- Inability to empty your bladder completely
