The Alexandra Hospital provides specialist treatment for pelvic floor issues, urinary problems and related conditions.
You can be treated for pelvic floor problems with a regular gynaecologist, but a urogynaecologist can provide that extra understanding of pelvic floor disorders and the best possible treatment options for you.
Urogynaecologists treat a variety of symptoms every day. These vary depending on the condition you live with. For example:
Pelvic organ prolapse: Pelvic floor disorder (also known as pelvic floor prolapse) occurs when a pelvic organ drops (prolapses) from its usual place in your lower belly and pushes against the walls of your vagina. Symptoms include a feeling of heaviness around your genitals and tummy, as well as discomfort and numbness during sex.
Urinary incontinence: Urinary incontinence, also known as an overactive bladder or stress urinary incontinence, happens when you regularly leak urine by accident. It can cause feelings of embarrassment and distress, making regular everyday activities and socialising a source of fear instead of enjoyment.
Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs): Symptoms of a urinary tract infection include a burning and stinging sensation with you go to the toilet, experiencing the frequent urge to pee, and a feeling of pain and pressure in your tummy. A recurrent UTI is generally defined as three or more UTIs within 12 months, or two or more occurrences within six months.
Bladder pain syndrome (interstitial cystitis): This relatively poorly understood condition causes symptoms that are like a UTI, but not caused by a bacterial infection. Symptoms include sudden strong urges to pee, ulcers across your bladder, and severe pelvic pain.
Urogynaecological treatment can be both non-surgical and surgical. For example, you might need have hormone (oestrogen) treatment to ease symptoms such as vaginal dryness or discomfort during sex. You might also have pelvic floor physiotherapy with a dedicated physiotherapist to help reduce pelvic pain and restore proper function to your pelvic floor. In other cases, surgery will be the best option for you.
Women’s pelvic floor physiotherapy
Women’s health physiotherapy treats many pelvic issues, including incontinence, pelvic pain, vaginal pain, pelvic organ prolapses and more. Your sessions will consist of a series of pelvic exercises built around your needs. The exercises you will be assigned will depend on your condition and related symptoms.
Pelvic floor dysfunction caused by hypotonicity (weak pelvic floor muscles, which can cause a pelvic prolapse) require pelvic floor strengthening exercises, known as kegel exercises. Hypertonic muscles (tight muscles, which can cause interstitial cystitis) require relaxing exercises called reverse kegels or down-training.
Regular home exercises can also be supported by breathing or core strengthening exercises. Your physiotherapist will provide you with a tailored plan and ensure you know exactly how to follow it safely at home.
Surgery to treat your urogynaecological condition
Some conditions can be treated with surgery, for example prolapse can be treated with pelvic organ prolapse repair surgery, which is typically performed by a gynaecologist or urogynaecologist. Your consultant can use a variety of methods to treat a prolapse, such as surgery to lift and support your pelvic organs by stitching them back into place through the vaginal wall.
Your consultant will ensure you understand the kind of surgery you are going to have and the process it follows to treat your problem.
If you would like to learn more about orthopaedic surgery, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly.
Reception: 0161 428 3656
Hospital: 24-hours
Urgent care centre: 8am- 8pm (last appointment 7:30pm)
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