Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery
Anything from childbirth to obesity can place stress on a group of tissues in the pelvis called the pelvic floor muscles. The pelvic floor muscles are responsible for numerous functions, including controlling urination and bowel movements, as well as supporting the organs within the pelvis. When the pelvic floor muscles are too tight or too loose, complications can develop. The Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery specialists at UK HealthCare are here to help.
At UK HealthCare, you’ll find specially trained physicians focused on pelvic floor disorders and reconstructive surgery who will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan to reduce or eliminate your symptoms. These specialists can recommend a wide range of treatments, including pelvic reconstructive surgery, if necessary, to help you enjoy a better quality of life.
Pelvic Floor Disorders & Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Pelvic Floor Disorders
The pelvic floor muscles support the intestines, bladder, urethra, rectum, cervix, uterus and vagina. Over time, these muscles can weaken due to pregnancy and childbirth, aging, excess weight, surgery and other causes. Pelvic floor disorders can lead to symptoms that interfere with your ability to work, exercise, or enjoy time with friends and family.
Symptoms of pelvic floor disorders include leaking urine when you laugh or exercise (known as urinary incontinence), leaking stool (fecal incontinence), frequent urges to urinate (overactive bladder), difficulty emptying the bladder, frequent bladder infections, or bulging of or a feeling of heaviness in the vagina, among others.
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
In order to properly function, the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles coordinate to contract and relax to control urination and bowel movements and allow for sexual intercourse for women. When the tension in the muscles is too tight or too loose, it can cause discomfort and potentially embarrassing symptoms.
Symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction include pain in the genitals, lower back, pelvis or rectum; muscle spasms in the pelvic floor; or pain during or after sexual intercourse, among others.
Treating Pelvic Floor Problems
No two women’s experiences with pelvic floor disorders and pelvic floor dysfunction are the same. The specialists in our pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery program can find a solution that works for you. Treatments can be as simple as exercises or medications or as complex as robotic surgery.
Why Choose UK HealthCare for Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery?
The specialists of the UK HealthCare Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery program are experts at treating pelvic floor disorders and dysfunction. They offer holistic care that takes into account the many ways pelvic floor symptoms affect women’s lives. This team works closely with the other specialists and programs throughout UK HealthCare and at University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital, which U.S. News & World Report ranked the No. 1 hospital in Kentucky and the Bluegrass Region, as well as High Performing in Urology. That means patients can expect to receive the comprehensive care they need to enjoy the best quality of life possible.
