"Treating a Common Women's Problem"

Treating a Common Women's Problem

Female pelvic floor dysfunction is surprisingly common among adult women. Nearly half will be affected by urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse, or both, in their lifetime. For some women, these problems begin during young adulthood, while for others it can be following menopause. Obesity, heavy lifting or repetitive straining such as constipation, and past surgical procedures such as hysterectomy, can also contribute to these problems.

Signs of This Disorder
Some women may experience leakage during physical activity (known as stress urinary incontinence) whereas others may be unable to defer the urge and may lose bladder control with little warning or on their way to the bathroom (urge incontinence). Others, still, may experience urinary frequency, urgency or bladder discomfort without leakage.

Treatments Differ
While some types of pelvic floor dysfunction may improve with time or with simple exercises (such as kegel exercises, which strengthen the pelvic floor muscle), most can be managed by a combination of pelvic floor retraining, medications and, in some cases, surgery. It is important to understand that treatment options differ for different types of problems. For example, stress incontinence can be corrected by an outpatient surgical procedure, whereas urgency is almost never treated surgically.

Your Next Step if You Have These Issues
If you think you have a problem, there are physicians known as urogynecologists who are medical doctors who specialize in pelvic floor disorders. Most are board certified gynecologists who have additional training and expertise. Seek one out at your local hospital using a physician referral service.

I will be writing periodically about the various urogynecology issues.
Please submit questions below and let me know what you would like to discuss.

ABOUT DR. TOGLIA

As the first urogynecologist to set up practice in the western Philadelphia suburbs, Marc R. Toglia, M.D., received his degree in medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and completed a residency at University of Michigan Hospital. Board certified in Gynecology, with a specialty in urogynecology, he serves as Chief, Division of Urogynecolgy, Main Line Health. He has been on the Riddle Hospital staff since 1997.