At SSM Health, our urogynecologists are committed to helping women improve their quality of life when it comes to pelvic health. Our clinical team has expertise in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of conditions that affect the muscles and connective tissue of female pelvic organs. These include pelvic pain, endometriosis, pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence, conditions that affect as many as one in three women.

We believe in treating every patient as a whole person. While diagnosing pelvic pain can be complex, our doctors take the time to listen to patients and complete a thorough examination. It’s important to us that we understand your physical, emotional and mental health needs. Our board-certified specialists develop individualized plans for each and every patient – to find out what is causing your pain and treat it. Find your nearest SSM Health urogynecologist to get the treatment you deserve for your pelvic pain.

What are Pelvic Floor Disorders?

When childbirth and other circumstances weaken or damage the pelvic floor, the pelvic organs, including the bladder, vagina and bowel, may descend through the vaginal opening and cause a variety of symptoms. Pelvic floor disorders include:

• Incontinence: loss of bladder or bowel control, leakage of urine or feces
• Prolapse: descent of pelvic organs noted as a bulge and/or pressure
• Emptying disorders: difficulty urinating or moving bowels
• Pain: discomfort in the lower back, pelvis or bladder and/or urethra
• Overactive bladder: frequent need to void, bladder pressure, urgency, urge incontinence (difficulty holding back urine when having the urge to urinate)

Treating Pelvic Floor Disorders

We employ a multidisciplinary approach to pelvic health with physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses and physical therapists working together to provide comprehensive care for each patient.  If you’ve struggled to find relief from a pelvic health disorder, consider getting a second opinion from an SSM Health pelvic health expert to learn how our approach can help.

Office Therapies

Our team provides treatment for pelvic floor disorders to reduce or eliminate bothersome symptoms using the least invasive approach. Your wishes, the severity of your condition and your general health define the individualized therapy. More conservative treatment may include:

• Dietary modifications
• Behavioral modifications
• Pelvic floor muscle therapy
• Tibial nerve modulation
• Biofeedback
• Medications
• Vaginal support device (pessary)

Surgical Options

When conservative therapies fail to treat your condition effectively, reconstructive surgery may be offered. During reconstructive surgery, the damaged supporting structures of the pelvic organs are repaired in an effort to normalize the anatomy and function of the pelvic floor. We offer minimally invasive procedures including robotic and laparoscopic surgery. Surgical treatment options include:

• Tension free slings for stress urinary incontinence
• Uterosacral ligament fixation
• Sacrospinous ligament fixation
• Anterior and posterior vaginal repair
• Sacrocolpopexy
• Colpocleisis
• Tibial nerve stimulation
• Sacral nerve modulation
• Botulinum toxin injection
• Urethral bulking

If you’re experiencing any symptoms of pelvic floor disorder, make an appointment with an SSM Health urogynecologist today. Most women who seek help for pelvic pain and other pelvic floor disorders will find improvement in their symptoms. Get started today.