Urogynecology
The Oregon Clinic urogynecology team specializes in treating women with pelvic floor conditions in a comfortable environment so they can return to a healthy and active lifestyle.
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We care about women’s health and specialize in treating women with pelvic floor disorders. Our providers specialize in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery and diagnose and treat urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic floor disorders, fistulas, childbirth injury, fecal incontinence, vaginal childbirth trauma, and bowel control issues.
We know how limiting these issues can be for women and we know how great it feels when they are fixed. We pride ourselves in offering treatments that work and work for you. Our goal is to empower our patients through education and by raising women’s awareness of the effective conservative and more advanced treatment options available to them.
We provide a wide range of evidence-based treatments including minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery, sling surgery, vaginal surgery, abdominal surgery, extensive conservative options, medications, and office-based procedures for these conditions. By finding a treatment choice that is right for you, we will work to make a positive difference in your quality of life and get you back to the life you enjoy.
What is a Urogynecologist?
A urogynecologist has completed obstetrics/gynecology training and has further focused on the care of women with pelvic floor disorders. We commonly diagnose and treat women with urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, fecal incontinence, and pelvic floor dysfunction. The pelvic floor includes the muscles, ligaments, connective tissue, and nerves that support and control the uterus, vagina, bladder, and rectum. The pelvic floor can be damaged by childbirth, repeated heavy lifting, chronic disease, or surgery. Learn more.
Our physicians have advanced, post-residency training and are board certified in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (also known as Urogynecology) so they understand and can optimally treat these complex conditions. They can perform surgeries with and without mesh and tailor each surgery to the individual’s needs after thoroughly discussing all options. They also have close relationships with physicians in other disciplines if a combined operation is indicated.
The nurse practitioner in our practice holds national board certification in Women’s Health and has extensive training in non-surgical treatments for pelvic floor disorders. Additionally, she runs our conservative management program.
Together, we have created a team to help women who are bothered by these private and often debilitating conditions—conditions that rob women of the ability and desire to stay active and healthy.
CONDITIONS
- Accidental bowel leakage
- Childbirth injury
- Overactive bladder (urgency urinary incontinence)
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Stress urinary incontinence
- Vaginal fistula
Procedures & Treatments
- Pessary
- Urodynamic testing
- Vaginal surgery
Health Resources
Many women aren’t aware that uncomfortable and limiting urogynecological conditions are usually fully treatable. You should seek help if you leak urine when you run, jump, cough, or sneeze, you may have a treatable condition called stress urinary incontinence.
Overactive bladder is when a woman experiences urinary urgency and frequency. This may be associated with leakage as well. An overactive bladder can lead to avoidance of healthy activities like exercise and social gatherings. It also can be expensive due to incontinence pad use and laundry needs. We can improve most leakage. If you have specific questions about urinary incontinence, contact us. Our urogynecology specialists and friendly staff can assist you.
As surgery has become more advanced, surgical incisions have become smaller and smaller. A smaller abdominal incision is associated with less pain. We perform minimally invasive surgeries with the aid of a Da Vinci robot. This allows us to use several small incisions rather than one large incision. This type of surgery is associated with less pain, a shorter recovery and healing period as well as less blood loss and scarring.
Vaginal surgery is done through a vaginal incision. With this type of surgery, there is no incision on the abdomen. It is a less painful surgical route. Surgeries for pelvic organ prolapse, hysterectomies, and incontinence procedures (with or without mesh) can all be done through a vaginal incision.
There is no universal “best” treatment option. We work to help you pick the treatment that suits you best. We will work to help you identify your treatment goals and work towards those goals together.
Mesh has been used in surgery for decades. How the mesh is placed and where the mesh is used, as well as the specific type of mesh, impacts the complication rate. All mesh is associated with an erosion rate but this rate is usually quite low (around 5%). A mesh sling surgery is currently considered to be the gold standard surgery. Mesh placed to treat prolapse through an abdominal incision or robotically has a low complication rate. See more information on voicesforpfd.org.