Scope of Practice
Urogynecology involves the diagnosis and treatment of urinary incontinence and female pelvic floor disorders. Incontinence and pelvic floor problems are remarkably common but many women are reluctant to receive help because of the stigma associated with these conditions. "There is no more distressing lesion than urinary incontinence-A constant dribbling of the repulsive urine soaking the clothes which cling wet and cold to the thighs, making the patient offensive to herself and her family and ostracizing her from society" Although countless women are bothered by a loss of bladder control, bowel symptoms, and pelvic discomfort they are often not aware that these problems have a name much less how common they really are. Pelvic floor conditions are more common than hypertension, depression, or diabetes. One in three adult women have hypertension; one in twenty adult women have depression; one in ten adult women have diabetes; and, more than one in two adult women suffer from pelvic floor dysfunction.
Some conditions treated in urogynecology practice include:
- Cystocele
- Enterocele
- Female genital prolapse
- Fecal incontinence
- Urinary incontinence
- Interstitial cystitis
- Lichen planus
- Lichen sclerosus
- Müllerian agenesis
- Overactive bladder
- Painful intercourse
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Rectocele
- Rectovaginal fistula
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
- Urinary incontinence
- Urinary retention
- Vaginal agenesis
- Vaginal septum
- Vesicocutaneous fistula
- Vesicouterine fistula
- Vesicovaginal fistula
- Voiding difficulties
Diagnostic tests and procedures performed include:
- Cystourethroscopy
- Urodynamic testing
- Ultrasound
Specialty treatments available include:
- Abdominal reconstruction
- Behavioral modification
- Biofeedback
- Botulinum toxin injection
- Dietary modification
- Fascial grafts
- Laparoscopic reconstruction
- Medications
- Pelvic floor re-education
- Pessary (for prolapse and incontinence)
- Pubovaginal slings
- Relaxation techniques
- Robotic reconstruction
- Sacral nerve stimulation
- Urethral injections
- Urethral reconstruction
- Urge suppression drills
- Vaginal reconstruction
Read more about this topic: Urogynecology
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