Common pelvic floor conditions treated

Atlantic Health clinicians can diagnose and manage a wide range of pelvic floor disorders, including:

Urinary incontinence: Loss of bladder control
Fecal incontinence: Loss of bowel control
Pelvic organ prolapse: When muscles and ligaments weaken and an organ drops below its normal position, including:
- Uterine prolapse
- Rectocele
- Cystocele
- Enterocele
- Vaginal vault prolapse
Pelvic pain: Pain in the pelvic, genital, rectal, abdominal, hip or low back region
Painful intercourse and post-childbirth pelvic weakness

Treatment options

Pelvic floor therapy

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that stretch from the pubic bone to the tail bone, acting as a sling or hammock to hold up the pelvic organs. These muscles benefit from exercise just like any others. If they become weak, the pelvic organs drop, which can cause urinary incontinence [EC1] and other issues. If they become too tight, they can cause pain.

Our OceanFirst Rehabilitation Center offers a Pelvic Floor Program[EC2] designed specifically to treat pelvic floor conditions by targeting and strengthening these muscles. Our specially trained therapists evaluate and treat pelvic floor disorders with gentle physical therapy interventions, which typically improve symptoms after a few visits.

Pelvic floor therapy begins with a comprehensive evaluation, and then a physical therapist guides you with specific exercises to help restore the musculoskeletal balance of your pelvis, hip, and trunk regions – so you can regain a healthy and independent lifestyle. Treatment may include:

Pelvic floor exercises to strengthen pelvic muscles and improve control
Yoga-based movements to increase strength and body awareness
Biofeedback/surface EMG to help you know that you’re contracting the right muscles
Education on lifestyle changes that decrease bladder irritability
Maintaining a bladder diary to aid in retraining your bladder
Relaxation and deep breathing techniques

Proactive Support After Childbirth
During pregnancy and childbirth, women’s bodies can shift and change. The three months after childbirth — called the fourth trimester — is an important time for women to regain their muscle strength, as pushing during childbirth often results in weakened pelvic floor muscles. Our Pelvic Floor Program can help strengthen strained and weakened muscles before problems like urinary incontinence begin.

Pessaries

A pessary is a nonsurgical treatment option for certain women with organ prolapse. A urogynecologist can fit you for this device, which is inserted into the vagina to lift up the pelvic organs. A pessary is a good option for women who are awaiting surgery, do not want surgery, or are unable to have surgery.

Pessaries can be worn all the time or just during the day. They should be checked and cleaned periodically, which can be done at the urogynecologist’s office.

Medicines and lifestyle changes

Sometimes medicines can help relieve symptoms for those with certain pelvic floor disorders. For example, medicines that soften stools can be used for certain bowel conditions, and medicines that control muscle spasms or unwanted bladder contractions can help with some types of urinary incontinence.

Changes in diet and lifestyle can also help in some cases. For example, eating more fiber may help with bowel problems. Losing weight can also reduce symptoms for those with certain pelvic floor disorders.

Surgical treatments

Over the past decade, significant advances have been made in the surgical treatment of pelvic floor disorders. Many of these procedures can now be done on an outpatient basis, enabling you to return home from the hospital on the same day.

The type of surgery needed depends on each specific disorder. For example, in organ prolapse, the first step is for a urogynecologist to distinguish which organ or organs are causing the problem. Then, a solution can be offered that meets your unique expectations and lifestyle.

At Atlantic Health, pelvic floor disorders can be treated in a variety of ways, including:

Vaginal surgery: Surgery through an incision in the vagina.
Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery: Surgery is performed through tiny incisions, meaning less scarring and a quicker recovery.
Minimally invasive robotic laparoscopic surgery: In robotic surgery, our surgeons use the da Vinci^® robotic surgery system to work through the arms of a robot with unmatched visualization and dexterity, along with the benefits of less pain, less scarring, and a quicker recovery for patients. We use the da Vinci Xi^® robotic system – the latest technology in minimally invasive surgical treatment options.

Urinary Incontinence