By Joseph Gauta, MD, FACOG
Women go through so many physical changes throughout their lives and quite frequently these changes are due fluctuations in hormone levels and the physical bearing on their bodies, from pregnancy, weight gain, stress, and physical activity.
As women age, their pelvic floor, which protects and supports the internal pelvic organs may become weakened, stretched, less elastic and resilient. The weakened pelvic floor muscles can subsequently allow organs to prolapse and fall into the vagina. It can also cause overactive bladder and incontinence issues. As if aging wasn’t hard enough, now women are faced with the inconvenience and very often, painful effects of a weekend pelvic floor. Much of this is directly correlated with the lack of estrogen.
Essentially, pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is herniation of the organs. Some of the symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse may include:
• Feeling of Pelvic Heaviness or Fullness
• Pulling or Aching Feeling in the Lower Abdomen,
Groin or Lower Back
• Leakage of Urine
• Problems Having a Bowel Movement
• Bulging of the Pelvic Organs into the Vagina
If you’ve been diagnosed with POP understanding your treatment options is essential. Your physician will help you determine which path you should take depending on your pelvic floor severity.
Treatment Options for POP
• Pelvic Floor Exercises
• Medications & Creams
• Pessaries
• Surgery
If you are in the early stages, pelvic floor exercises may help to alleviate the discomfort of your prolapse, but it will not correct the bulging placement of the organs.
Estrogen creams and various medications may help to lessen symptoms but again will not reposition your organs.
A device called a vaginal pessary can be inserted through your vagina to keep your organs supported.
It is very similar to a diaphragm and will be fitted by your physician in the convenience of the doctor’s office. You will be able to remove, clean and reinsert the device yourself. This is a non-surgical approach, but again, will not permanently move your organs back into their proper position.
Minimally invasive surgery is a permanent option for putting your organs back in place and reconnecting ligaments while strengthening the pelvic floor with a sling or mesh.
Overactive bladder and incontinence can be embarrassing and extremely inconvenient for women. Fortunately, it’s treatable, so you do not have to suffer in silence any longer.
Symptoms of overactive bladder
• Frequency (eight or more times a day or three or more times at night)
• Urgency (strong need to urinate immediately)
• Urgency incontinence (leakage or gushing of urine)
• Nocturia (awaking at night to urinate)
Overactive Bladder Treatment
• Bladder Retraining
• Pelvic Floor Exercises
• Physical Therapy
• Electrical Stimulation
• Medications
• Biofeedback
• Colpocleisis
• Pessary Vaginal Device
• Injections including Botox and bulking procedures
• Surgery for Bladder Suspension
• Surgery for Organ Prolapse / Dropped Bladder Repair
• InterStim® Sacral Nerve Stimulation
You do not have to grin and bear it. Nor do you have to wear embarrassing, indiscreet. There are so many proven options for you to explore! Dr. Gauta specializes in pelvic floor weakening. He has the experience you can trust. His diagnosis, techniques, and proficiency are unparalleled. Let him help you get through menopause and beyond with confidence.
Joseph Gauta MD
Dr. Gauta is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the subspecialty of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (Urogynecology). He is the founder of The Florida Bladder Institute, the region’s premier Urogynecology practice specializing in treating women with urinary incontinence, bladder and bowel dysfunction, pelvic floor disorders, organ prolapse, pelvic floor reconstruction, and a variety of other complex women’s health issues.
Dr. Gauta realized that women would benefit significantly and achieve excellent outcomes by treating these problems with an organized and comprehensive approach rather than as individual issues. Using his expertise and resources, a full complement of the most advanced technologies and his skilled team of physicians and nurses, Dr. Gauta established the Florida Bladder Institute, which continually delivers the highest quality care with compassion, discretion, and dignity to their patients. They offer a full array of the latest diagnostic; therapeutic, rehabilitative and surgical techniques in comfortable and convenient settings all with the goal of helping women regain control and reclaim their freedom. He remains an independent practitioner, employed by neither the hospitals nor the insurance companies.
To schedule your appointment, please call 239-449-7979
Naples:
1890 SW Health Pkwy., Suite 205
Bonita Springs:
26741 Dublin Woods Circle