Maybe you’ve never heard of pelvic floor disorders – or perhaps you suspect you might have one but you aren’t sure what to do about it.
Pelvic floor disorders are caused by weakened pelvic floor muscles from childbirth, menopause or simply aging. The connective tissues surrounding the pelvis can no longer easily support the organs in the pelvic area, causing a host of painful and sometimes embarrassing symptoms.
But rest assured – help is here. The St. Elizabeth Physicians team of fellowship-trained and board-certified Urogynecologists offer specialized, compassionate care to women in the TriState.
Pelvic Floor Disorders
According to the American Urogynecologic Society, more than 25% of women 20 years old or older suffer from a pelvic floor disorder. You’re not alone – one in four women are affected.
If you’re new to learning about pelvic floor disorders, the symptoms fall into the following categories:
- Bladder control – these issues include an overactive bladder, leaking urine, difficulty fully emptying the bladder, interstitial cystitis and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI).
- Bowel control – bowel issues include constipation, diarrhea, irregular or hard bowel movements, abnormal stool consistency or fecal urgency and incontinence.
- Pelvic organ prolapse – a bulge or heavy pressure sensation in the vagina. Pelvic organ prolapse typically worsens as the day goes on and during bowel movements. It can also cause difficulty with urination or urine leakage during intercourse.
- Sexual dysfunction – chronic pelvic pain, low sexual desire and pain during intercourse.
Thanks to our dedicated team of urogynecologists, we can diagnose and treat our female patients quickly. Pelvic floor physical therapy and non-invasive surgery are just a few of the options available to our patients – we can make changes to your diet and lifestyle, try medication or even vaginal pessary.
“Many women don’t seek help for pelvic floor disorders because they don’t know that there are specialized treatments for these conditions, or they feel embarrassed to bring up these concerns at their doctor’s office,” says Dr. Caroline Elmer-Lyon, Urogynecologist at St. Elizabeth Physicians Urogynecology. “These conditions impact your quality of life, and we treat them according to your goals.”
During your appointment, your urogynecologist will review your symptoms, perform an exam and then discuss a personalized treatment plan that best fits your healthcare needs. Our team is committed to hearing your story and getting you back to your busy everyday life.
We’re here to help
Still not sure? Check out our patient success stories of women just like you who took the first step and called our office for a consultation. If you are experiencing pelvic floor disorder symptoms, please call the St. Elizabeth Physicians Urogynecology office at (859) 757-2132 to schedule an appointment today.
In addition, the St. Elizabeth Women’s Health Center offers a dedicated space for pelvic floor physical therapy. Please call (859) 301-2710 for more information on pelvic floor physical therapy at St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
