Urogynecology

A urogynecologist is a physician who specializes in caring for women’s pelvic floor, urology, and pelvic problems. Urogynecology is a subspecialty, which means that doctors who are urogynecologists are specialists in this area and have more experience treating these conditions. If you have incontinence or prolapse issues that are affecting your quality of life, you should seek treatment from a urogynecologist. These disorders are not just a normal part of aging. A urogynecologist can help women find safe, effective options to help them regain their quality of life.

Common disorders treated by a urogynecologist include:

  • Incontinence – bladder and bowel control problems

  • Prolapse – weakening of the pelvic muscles that cause the internal organs to drop down

  • Emptying Disorders – difficulty voiding (going to the bathroom) and not being able to complete the void leaving urine in the bladder.

  • Pelvic Pain

  • Overactive Bladder – having a sudden urge and/or voiding frequently

  • Interstitial Cystitis – Painful Bladder Syndrome

Urogynecology Services & Conditions Treated

  • PFD’s (Pelvic Floor Disorders)

  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse

  • Stress Urinary Incontinence

  • Urge Incontinence

  • Fecal Incontinence

  • Interstitial Cystitis

  • Overactive Bladder Syndrome

  • Voiding Dysfunction

Urogynecology Procedures

  • Complex Multichannel Urodynamics Testing

  • Pessary Fitting

  • Surgical & non-surgical treatment for Stress Urinary Incontinence

  • Midurethral sling

  • Urethral bulking

  • In-office Cystoscopy

  • Bladder Botox

  • Interstim Sacral Neuromodulation

  • Surgical Procedures for Pelvic Organ Prolapse

  • Anterior or posterior colporrhaphy

  • Robotic Sacrocolpopexy and sacrohysteropexy

More About Common Urogynecologic Conditions Treated

  • The pelvic floor muscles do more than just hold your pelvic organs in place—they also allow you to control your bowel and bladder movements. When these muscles become weak or damaged, it may result in a condition called pelvic floor dysfunction. Pregnancy and childbirth are the most common risk factors for developing pelvic floor dysfunction. Other possible causes for this condition include traumatic injuries or accidents to the pelvic area, irritable bowel syndrome, habitual heavy lifting, nerve disorder in the pelvic region, and genetic predisposition.

    Learn more about Pelvic Floor Disorders here

  • Your pelvic organs (bladder, urethra, uterus, vagina, small bowel, and rectum) are held in place by a group of muscles and connective tissue ligaments that form the pelvic floor inside your abdomen. When these muscles are injured, stretched, or weakened, one or more of the pelvic organs can “prolapse”, or descend out of place. This can cause discomfort, inconvenience, and sometimes pain, depending on the severity.

    Learn more about Pelvic Organ Prolapse here

  • The condition of unintentional leaking of urine or stool is called incontinence, which can impact the quality of your daily life. Fortunately, incontinence can be treated, managed, and even reversed in some cases, depending on the severity and the underlying cause.

    Learn more about Incontinence here

  • Overactive Bladder (OAB) is a grouping of symptoms that include sudden strong urges to urinate, urinary urge incontinence, and simply feeling like "you have to go" several times throughout the day and night. OAB can have a tremendous impact on quality of life, with frequent trips to the bathroom interrupting your day and taking up valuable time.

  • Fecal incontinence refers to problems associated with bowel control, specifically the inability to restrict a bowel movement before reaching a restroom. Your risk of experiencing fecal incontinence increases if you suffer from chronic bowel issues (such as habitual constipation or diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, etc.), or sustain pelvic muscle or nerve damage, or have pelvic floor dysfunction.

  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can occur when bacteria enters and proliferates in the

    bladder or kidneys. The signs of a UTI include:

    • Pain or discomfort during urination

    • Bloody or cloudy urine

    • The urge to urinate even when your bladder is empty

    • Pain in your lower back (kidneys) or pain in the pelvic region (bladder)

    Treatment usually involves a short course of antibiotics, though this can be problematic with recurrent or chronic UTIs. In rare cases, frequent antibiotic use can lead to growth of bacteria that are resistant to certain types of antibiotics. At Cookeville Gynecology & Urogynecology we utilize a combination of PCR and P-AST™ testing that allows for more informed treatment decisions.