Incontinence, Bladder, & Pelvic Health

The Pelvic Care & Incontinence Center

Many problems in your bladder and pelvis—also called urogynecology problems—can negatively affect your health and quality of life. Common bladder and pelvis health issues in women include the following:

• Urinary leakage and voiding
• Bladder infections
• Pelvic prolapse (prolapse or "slipping" of the organs inside your vagina, cervix, & rectum)
• Lower bowel dysfunction

Sometimes young women with neurologic problems and difficult childbirth may have these bladder and pelvic health symptoms as well.

The Pelvic Care and Incontinence Center brings together the collaborative expertise of specialists in obstetrics and gynecology, urogynecology, urology, general surgery, and gastroenterology to work together on bladder and pelvic issues (also called the pelvic floor).

Facts About Bladder & Pelvic Conditions

Bladder and pelvic conditions can lead to a number of problems that we are familiar with, even if we don’t know what treatment options are available. Here are some facts about these conditions:

• When the tissue that supports the pelvic organs is stretched or damaged, the organ (bladder, uterus, rectum, intestine) can press against the wall of your vagina. This can cause a bulge.
• 15 to 30 percent of women have pelvic prolapse. Childbearing and obesity increase your chances of pelvic organ prolapse.
• Urinary incontinence affects 18 million women. Your chance of urinary incontinence increases with age.
• Bowel incontinence is closely associated with urinary loss.