Expert Care for Pelvic Floor Disorders
The Orlando Health Women’s Institute Center for Urogynecology offers compassionate care and a complete range of treatments for women with pelvic floor disorders.
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments and connective tissue that serve as the foundation or support system for the bladder, uterus, vagina and rectum. Pelvic floor dysfunction can affect the normal functions of those organs, and it can prevent you from getting the most out of your life. Among the most common issues are urinary incontinence (the involuntary leakage of urine) and pelvic organ prolapse (the dropping of pelvic organs).
You may be uncomfortable talking about it, but there is nothing to be embarrassed about. You are not alone. One in four women over the age of 20 has at least one pelvic floor disorder, which can be caused by a range of factors, including pregnancy, constipation, heavy lifting or aging.
Our Team of Urogynecology Specialists
When you choose us, you can feel confident you will get comprehensive care from a team of specialists who are all board-certified in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery (URPS). We offer both surgical and nonsurgical treatment options, and we are committed to giving you an accurate diagnosis and personalizing your treatment using the latest technology.
Our physicians treat only women and offer an entire spectrum of urogynecologic services, including education, therapy, medication and the most complex minimally invasive and robotic surgery options. We will find the right treatment plan for you based on your own needs and goals.
Contact Us
To schedule an appointment with a urogynecologist specializing in pelvic floor disorders, please call (321) 842-4810.
What Types of Disorders Are Treated?
Pelvic floor disorders are a group of conditions caused by weakened pelvic muscles or tears in connective tissue. That damage to the pelvic floor prevents your body from adequately supporting the nearby organs, including the bladder, uterus, vagina and rectum. They affect one in four women over the age of 20.
The Orlando Health Women's Institute Center for Urogynecology treats all types of pelvic floor disorders.
The most common pelvic floor disorders involve the loss of normal function of your bladder.
- Urinary incontinence includes the inability to hold it long enough to reach the bathroom after the urge hits. Small amounts of urine may also be released when coughing, sneezing or exercising.
- Bladder irritation includes frequent, urgent or painful urination.
- Urinary retention symptoms include difficulty starting a urine stream, slow or weak flow of urine or a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying.
Fecal incontinence is the inability to control your bowels. You may experience the involuntary loss of stool, bowel urgency, incomplete emptying and straining to pass a bowel movement.
Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when tears or weakness in the ligaments, muscles or connective tissue allow organs to slip out of place. The most common symptom is a bulge or protrusion of organs like the bladder or uterus coming through the vaginal opening.
There are also less-common conditions, including:
- Urethral conditions – including urethral caruncle, urethral diverticulum and urethrocele
- Fistulas – an abnormal openings between the vagina and rectum that leads to stooling or urinary leakage through the vagina
- Anal sphincter defects – due to childbirth that can lead to accidental bowel leakage
- Postpartum pelvic floor issues – including painful sexual intercourse and perineal lacerations and scarring
The Right Treatment for the Right Diagnosis
The specialists at the Orlando Health Women's Institute Center for Urogynecology use state-of-the-art technology to diagnose and treat all types of pelvic floor disorders. Our board-certified physicians will develop a personalized treatment plan that’s best for you. That may range from education and physical therapy to the most complex, and minimally invasive, robotic surgeries. Our goal is always to provide the right treatment for your unique diagnosis.
Often, pelvic floor disorders can be treated without surgery. Options include:
- Physical therapy and exercise to strengthen your pelvic floor
- Lifestyle and behavioral changes
- Topical and oral medication
- Pessaries (soft, flexible devices placed in the vagina to support pelvic organs)
We offer a range of treatments targeting bladder control issues.
- Bladder Botox injections to treat urinary incontinence and overactive bladder
- Urethral bulking injections to counter stress urinary incontinence
- Bladder instillations. A solution, also known as a bladder wash, is inserted into the bladder through a catheter and then released.
- Percutaneous Tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) involves stimulation of the nerves that control the bladder.
Our board-certified doctors perform a wide range of minimally invasive surgical procedures for urinary and fecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. These procedures, some of which are robot assisted, represent the latest in surgical options available. Most of our surgical treatments fall in this group.
At times, we see conditions that require surgeries using an open abdominal incision. These are sometimes needed to correct urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
Sometimes previous treatments or surgeries fail. Our team is dedicated to getting it right this time around. We will offer a treatment plan that corrects your condition or issue, so you don’t need repeat surgeries again in the future.
Meet the Team
All of our providers are board-certified in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery (URPS), also known as urogynecology, and focus exclusively on diagnosing and treating pelvic floor disorders.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Incontinence occurs when you have difficulty controlling your urine or bowels. It can come in different forms. You might find urine squirting out while exercising, coughing or jumping. Or you may have trouble holding it once the urge hits.
Prolapse occurs when the uterus, bladder, or other pelvic organs fall out of place, often protruding out throught the vagina. While It’s not considered a serious health risk, it can cause significant discomfort.
You should see a urogynecologist if you are experiencing difficulties urinating, bladder or bowel leakage or if you notice a bulge or something coming out of your vagina. Other symptoms include discomfort during sexual intercourse, lower back pain and irregular vaginal spotting or bleeding. You should also seek help if you find yourself altering your behavior to compensate for urinary or bowel issues. Pelvic floor disorders are not something you have to live with.
None of us feels comfortable talking about problems occurring below the waistline, especially when it comes to incontinence or vaginal bulges. But remember, you’re not alone. One in four women are experiencing similar issues, so your doctor is used to discussing your concerns. The key to getting an accurate diagnosis and treatment is an honest conversation with your provider.
The exam starts with a conversation, during which one of our doctors will listen and learn your medical history. A complete urogynecologic pelvic examination will include a POP-Q (Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification measurement system) to assess the position of the pelvic organs and the adequacy of pelvic floor support. Your doctor may also perform bladder, bowel or prolapse assessment.
Yes. All of our providers are board-certified in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS), also known as urogynecology, and focus exclusively on diagnosing and treating pelvic floor disorders. They will work closely with your primary care doctor to ensure a continuum of care and the best treatment plan available.
Often, pelvic floor disorders can be treated through behavioral changes, medicine, exercises and physical therapy. But some instances of urinary incontinence and organ prolapse may require surgery. If you require surgery, our team will assess all of your options and offer the least invasive plan to treat your unique diagnosis.
