Urogynecology

What is a Urogynecologist?

A urogynecologist is a surgeon who has specialized in the care of women with pelvic floor disorders.

The pelvic floor is a set of muscles, ligaments and connective tissue in the lowest part of the pelvis that provides support for a woman’s internal organs, including the bowel, bladder, uterus, vagina and rectum.

A pelvic floor disorder occurs when women have weakened pelvic muscles or tears in the connective tissue due to excessive strain on the pelvis due to childbirth, repeated strenuous activity, menopause, chronic disease, or pelvic surgery. Other factors that can weaken the  pelvic floor include repetitive heavy lifting, tobacco use, and genetics.

The following are some problems that arise from damage to the pelvic floor:

1. Incontinence: loss of bladder or bowel control, leakage of urine or feces.
2. Prolapse: descent of pelvic organs; a bulge and/or pressure; ‘dropped uterus, bladder, vagina or rectum.’
3. Emptying Disorders: difficulty urinating or moving bowels.
4. Pain: discomfort to the lower back, pelvis or bladder and/or urethra.
5. Overactive Bladder: frequent need to void, bladder pressure, urgency, urge incontinence (difficulty holding back urine when having the urge to urinate)
6. Fistulas: abnormal hole between the vagina and rectum (rectovaginal), vagina and urethra (urethrovaginal), or vagina and the bladder (vesicovaginal)