Pelvic floor disorders occur when the pelvic floor — which includes the muscles, blood vessels, and nerves that support the bladder, rectum, uterus, and vagina — doesn’t work as it should. While aging can make pelvic floor disorders more likely, they are not a normal part of aging.
Types of pelvic floor disorders include:
- Urinary incontinence: loss of bladder control
- Fecal incontinence: loss of bowel control
- Pelvic organ prolapse: bladder or other pelvic organ drops and presses on the walls of the vagina
Pelvic floor disorders can hurt your quality of life and affect your ability to use the restroom. Treatments with experts at University of Miami Health can help you strengthen your pelvic floor and regain control over your bathroom habits.
Tests
Physical Exam
Your gynecologist may feel signs of pelvic organ prolapse during your routine pelvic exam, or can diagnose a pelvic floor disorder based on your symptoms.
Cystoscopy
During this test, your physician inserts a specialized camera through your urethra into your bladder to look for causes of urinary incontinence.
Urodynamics
Urodynamic testing shows how well your bladder and urethra work, and can help you determine if you need surgery for a pelvic floor disorder.
Treatments
Pelvic Floor Muscle Training
This type of physical therapy strengthens your pelvic floor to help stop incontinence.
Medicines
Your doctor may prescribe medicines to help you better control symptoms of urinary or fecal incontinence.
Vaginal Pessary
A pessary is a special device inserted into your vagina to help keep your pelvic organs in place.
Sling Surgery
Your gynecologist can insert a mesh sling around your urethra (opening where urine comes out) or bladder to lift and hold them into place.
Prolapse Surgery
During prolapse surgery, your surgeon will move your pelvic organs back into position and insert slings to hold them there.
Vaginal Pessary
Products like catheters, pads, or urethra inserts can help you manage symptoms of urinary incontinence.
Why Choose UHealth?
Care designed with women in mind. Our obstetrics and gynecology experts provide research-backed care that is tailored specifically for each woman. We help make care more convenient — offering advanced in-office procedures, the latest diagnostic tests for fast results, and access to comprehensive women’s health services for women of all ages — all in one location. Our highly-trained physicians and staff are sensitive to the needs of every woman, so you can feel comfortable and confident in your care and treatment.
Leaders in robotic surgery treatment. We have some of the world’s most experienced robotic surgeons for urologic procedures. In fact, doctors come from all over the world to learn at our Urology Robotic Program — the #1 ranked program in South Florida. The University of Miami Health System was the first academic medical center in the world to get the da Vinci Xi robotic surgery system and has completed more than 5,000 robotic surgeries — procedures that offer less pain and scarring and a faster recovery.
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