Frequently Asked Questions

Stress incontinence leaks happen during physical activity, coughing, or sneezing when pelvic floor muscles can't support bladder pressure. Urge incontinence involves sudden, intense bladder urges with leakage before reaching the bathroom, caused by overactive bladder muscle contractions. Treatment approaches differ significantly between the two types.

Urodynamic testing measures bladder pressure, capacity, and muscle function during filling and emptying to diagnose urological conditions. A catheter fills the bladder while sensors record how it responds to increasing volume and the signals it sends. This identifies whether incontinence stems from muscle weakness, overactivity, or nerve dysfunction.

Pessaries work well for women who want to avoid surgery, have medical conditions that increase surgical risk, or need temporary support during pregnancy recovery. The device mechanically supports prolapsed organs without anesthesia or recovery time. It requires regular removal for cleaning and refitting as pelvic anatomy changes.

Botulinum toxin injections treat overactive bladder that doesn't respond to medications and neurogenic bladder caused by spinal cord injury or neurological conditions. The Botox temporarily relaxes overactive bladder muscle, reducing urgency and frequency. Effects last approximately six to nine months before repeat injection is needed.

Pelvic floor dysfunction causes combinations of bladder leakage, bowel control issues, pelvic pressure, pain during intercourse, or difficulty emptying completely. Because these muscles control multiple functions, problems rarely affect just one system. Comprehensive evaluation identifies which muscles are weak, overactive, or uncoordinated.

Initial consultation includes detailed symptom history, physical examination of pelvic floor muscle function, and assessment of how symptoms affect daily activities. The evaluation identifies specific conditions causing problems and determines whether conservative management, testing, or surgical options are appropriate. Treatment plans address individual functional goals.

Conservative approaches include bladder retraining to extend time between bathroom visits, pelvic floor exercises to improve muscle control, dietary changes to reduce bladder irritants, and medications that calm bladder muscle contractions. If these don't provide adequate relief, advanced therapies like Botox injections or nerve stimulation are considered.

Rectal prolapse creates a bulge that traps stool, making complete bowel emptying difficult and sometimes requiring manual support. Severe uterine or bladder prolapse can also press against the rectum, changing bowel movement patterns. Prolapse affecting multiple organs often requires evaluation of how each structure impacts the others.

Reconstructive procedures reposition prolapsed organs to their normal anatomic location, reinforce weakened pelvic floor support structures, and restore the vaginal canal shape that allows normal function. Minimally invasive approaches reduce recovery time compared to traditional open surgery while addressing bladder, uterine, or rectal prolapse.

Painful bladder syndrome causes chronic pelvic pain, urinary urgency, and frequency without bacterial infection present in urine tests. Unlike UTIs that resolve with antibiotics, this condition involves bladder wall inflammation or nerve sensitivity requiring specialized treatments. Symptoms persist for weeks or months rather than days.