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The Women’s Center for Bladder and Pelvic Health specializes in caring for women with pelvic floor disorders such as Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Organ Prolapse. Women of all ages and races can suffer from bladder and pelvic floor disorders. The pelvic floor is a combination of muscles, ligaments and connective tissues that support the pelvic organs - the bladder, vagina, uterus and rectum. The pelvic floor can be weakened by a combination of factors such as childbirth, heavy lifting, the effects of menopause and aging, and other chronic medical and neurologic conditions. Although problems do become more common with advancing age, even young women can be affected.
Urogynecology is a subspecialty of gynecology. It is synonymous with Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. A Urogynecologist is a physician with specialty training in the evaluation and management of disorders of the female pelvic floor.
In a private, confidential setting, evaluation and treatment is available for all of the following conditions:
The Women’s Center for Bladder and Pelvic Health offers patients a comprehensive blend of services to bring relief for the conditions listed above.
Sometimes simple changes and interventions can have a significant impact on daily quality of life. A urogynecologist may advise conservative (non-surgical) or surgical therapy depending on your wishes, the severity of your condition and your general health. Conservative options include medications, pelvic exercises, behavioral and/or dietary modifications and vaginal devices (also called pessaries). Pelvic Floor Therapy with Biofeedback is another treatment that your urogynecologist may recommend. Safe and effective surgical procedures are also utilized by the urogynecologist to treat incontinence and prolapse. These include minimally invasive same day surgeries such as mid-urethral slings or da Vinci Robotic Surgery.
Our goal is to restore function and improve quality of life for every woman. To do this we use the most current research and clinical standards to create individualized treatment plans that may include behavioral, medical, non-surgical, and surgical options.
Incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine, stool or bowel gas. There are a few different types of urinary incontinence. Approximate 50 percent of adult women have experienced urinary incontinence at some point in their life and 15 percent of women have experienced incontinence of stool at some point. Many women and health care providers think that this a normal process of aging and never seek any treatment and just learn to live with the conditions. Some women want help but are too embarrassed to ask. Incontinence is not a hopeless condition.
It’s reported that about half of all adult women say they have noticed urine leakage even in the most normal of daily activities, such as:
If you are suffering from urinary incontinence, the urogynecologists at UPMC Urogynecology provide expert, customized care for women using the latest diagnostic and treatment methods.
Your urogynecologist will evaluate the results of your urodynamic tests to determine if your bladder is functioning normally and recommend appropriate treatment, if needed.
Our goal is to restore function and improve quality of life for every woman. To do this we use the most current research and clinical standards to create individualized treatment plans that may include behavioral, medical, non-surgical, and surgical options. In addition our experts offer Robotic Assisted Surgery utilizing a dual-console da Vinci ® Surgical System for procedures.
If these treatments do not help to control your urinary incontinence, your doctor may recommend specialized treatment. These options include:
If you are suffering from moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence that is caused by a sagging bladder, your doctor may recommend sling surgery. Sling surgery uses a piece of body tissue or a synthetic material to create a hammock-like cradle for a sagging bladder neck. The procedure provides support for your bladder neck and helps prevent involuntary urine leakage when coughing, sneezing, laughing or exercising.
If medication does not help to control your urge incontinence or is not the best option for you, your doctor may recommend the InterStim® System. InterStim is a small, surgically implanted device that is programmed to provide mild electrical stimulation to your sacral nerves at the base of your tailbone. The sacral nerves are responsible for sending messages to your brain related to bladder and urinary function. The electrical stimulation helps to improve communication between the brain and the sacral nerves so your bladder and pelvic floor muscles can function properly.
Gynecare TVTTM is a minimally invasive treatment for stress urinary incontinence that uses a lightweight, ribbon-like strip of mesh to provide support to your urethra and prevent involuntary urine leakage. This added support helps your urethra to remain closed when exercising, coughing, laughing or sneezing.
Pelvic prolapse occurs when the connective tissue and muscles in the pelvic floor weaken or tears. This causes the organs supported by the pelvic floor to fall into the vagina and sometimes protrude out of the vagina. Organs that can prolapse are the bladder and urethra, the uterus and cervix and the rectum. Symptoms of pelvic prolapse include a feeling of pelvic pressure, especially as exertional activity is performed or as the day progresses. Feeling as if something is falling out of the vagina or noticing a bulge or ball of tissue at the opening of the vagina. Some women may have difficulty emptying their bladder or bowel when prolapse is present.
Like urinary incontinence, pelvic prolapse can be caused by many conditions. This can include aging and genetics, pregnancy and childbirth, obesity, chronic cough, constipation, heavy lifting and exertional lifting or exercise and smoking.
Pelvic prolapse can be treated with physical therapy in the early stages as well as the use of a pessary or surgery. A pessary is a device that is placed in the vagina that holds up the prolapsing organ. It is sized and fitted in the doctor’s office. Patients can manage this by themselves but some women are too frail and this requires the health care provider to manage. Much like a tampon, once the pessary is placed in the vagina, a woman will not feel it. It causes little risk to most patients and is a great option for patients that do not want to have surgery or women that are not good surgical candidates. Surgical correction of prolapse is vast and is dependent on the type and degree (stage of prolapse), the patient’s health and underlying medical problems and the surgeon’s skill set and experience. Most prolapse surgery can be performed as an outpatient but some require the patient to send a night or two in the hospital. Surgeries can be performed vaginally, laparoscopically, robotically and through a large incision referred to as laparotomy.
Pelvic floor disorders significantly compromise the quality of women’s lives, which may result in depression, social isolation, and avoidance of physical and sexual activity due to discomfort and embarrassment. Our experts are dedicated to improving the quality of our patients' lives.
Many of our providers offer video visits. Call the office or schedule via your patient portal.
Carlisle: 717-218-8888
Harrisburg: 717-791-2960
Hanover: 717-724-6788
York: 717-840-9885
Our urogynecology experts are here for you. Contact us at one of our locations below to schedule an appointment.
Women’s Center for Bladder and Pelvic Health-UPMC
Part of Women’s Center for Bladder and Pelvic Health-UPMC
19 Sprint Drive
Suite 2
Carlisle, PA 17015
Phone: 717-218-8888
Fax: 717-243-6956
Women’s Center for Bladder and Pelvic Health-UPMC
Located at Medical Sciences Pavilion
4300 Londonderry Road
Suite 305
Harrisburg, PA 17109
Phone: 717-791-2960
Fax: 717-791-2961
Women’s Center for Bladder and Pelvic Health-UPMC
Part of Women’s Center for Bladder and Pelvic Health-UPMC
18 North Street
Hanover, PA 17331
Phone: 717-724-6788
Fax: 717-703-0099
Women’s Center for Bladder and Pelvic Health-UPMC
Part of Women’s Center for Bladder and Pelvic Health-UPMC
1600 6th Avenue
Suite 117
York, PA 17403
Phone: 717-840-9885
Fax: 717-840-9313
UPMC Pinnacle West Shore Campus
Medical Office Building 1
2025 Technology Parkway
Suite 211
Mechanicsburg, Pa 17055
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