Urogynecology includes diagnosis and treatment of pelvic floor disorders. These conditions
involve problems with the muscles, ligaments and connective tissues that support organs
like the bladder, bowel, rectum, vagina and uterus.
Urogynecology includes diagnosis and treatment of pelvic floor disorders. These conditions
involve problems with the muscles, ligaments and connective tissues that support organs
like the bladder, bowel, rectum, vagina and uterus.
Our Approach
We understand that problems “down there” can be difficult to talk about, especially
as a woman. Pelvic floor disorders are common, with one in three women experiencing
one in her lifetime. However, nearly 60 percent of women may wait up to five years
or more to talk to their doctor about it.
Don’t wait — and don’t settle for the misbelief that you have to live with one of
these inconvenient, even painful, conditions. Our experienced urogynecologists are
ready to address your concerns with sensitivity and compassion.
Why Choose Us
When it comes to your health, especially such personal matters, you need a team you
can trust. Augusta University Health has the only academic urogynecology program providing
this specialized care. We offer:
Expert care: Our team features the Augusta River Region’s only board-certified urogynecologists.
They deliver specialized care for all types of pelvic floor disorders, including urinary
incontinence, fecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
Advanced diagnostic testing: We offer convenient in-office urodynamic bladder testing, which gauges how well the
bladder, urinary sphincter and urethra function to diagnose specific types of incontinence.
We also offer cystoscopy, which allows your doctor to visualize the inside your urethra
and bladder to diagnose urinary incontinence. These tests help us to diagnose incontinence
with accuracy so we can choose the right treatments for you.
Advanced treatments: We offer nerve therapy to treat bowel and bladder control problems, Botox® injections
to treat overactive bladder, urethral bulking to treat certain types of stress incontinence,
pelvic floor rehabilitation for all pelvic floor disorders, and pessary fitting and
care. We also offer treatments for complications related to vaginal mesh.
Treatments with Sacral Neuromodulation: Sacral Neuromodulation (SNM), also known as sacral nerve stimulation (SNS), has proven
to be a useful treatment of chronic dysfunction of the urinary tract, bowel and pelvic
floor. The sacral nerve controls a person’s bladder, bowel and pelvic floor and the
muscles related to their function. The device is implanted surgically and stimulates
the sacral nerve with mild electrical pulses. It enables the person to perceive the
sensation of bladder fullness and the desire to void. It also helps a patient to spontaneously
and completely empty the bladder.
Minimally invasive surgery: We offer robotic surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System, laparoscopic surgery
and vaginal surgery to treat pelvic floor disorders. We also perform urethral sling
procedures, which involve making a small incision and minimal pain.
Teamwork: Our urogynecologists, physician assistant and nurses work together to diagnose and
treat pelvic floor disorders. They gather through weekly board meetings to review
all cases.
Collaboration: We partner with other Augusta University Health specialists from multiple fields of
medicine, including anesthesia, colorectal surgery, general surgery, robotic surgery
and urology. For complicated cases that require more than one procedure, we work with
other surgeons to combine multiple surgeries into one operation — which means one
trip to the operating room and reduced exposure to anesthesia.
Clinical trials: We’re working to discover new treatments for urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence
and pelvic organ prolapse that lead to better health outcomes.
Pelvic Floor Disorders We Treat
Our urogynecologists have the expertise required to get to the bottom of the symptoms
you’re experiencing. They take pride in accurately diagnosing conditions so they can
deliver life-changing treatments to help you feel your best.
We treat all types of pelvic floor disorders, including urinary incontinence, fecal
incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
Urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence — also referred to as bladder problems or urinary problems —
involves losing bladder control, ranging from leaking urine to involuntarily urinating.
Types of urinary incontinence include:
Stress incontinence, or the loss of urine when you cough, sneeze, laugh or exercise because of the additional
pressure those activities place on the abdomen
Urge incontinence, or the inability to hold urine in your bladder until you can make it to a restroom
Urge frequency, or the need to empty your bladder more frequently than usual
Overactive bladder, a combination of urge frequency and urinary urge incontinence
Urinary retention, or difficulty emptying the bladder, despite feeling the urgent need to do so
Mixed incontinence, or a combination of any two or more types of urinary incontinence
Learn more about urinary incontinence and the diagnostic tests and treatments we offer.
Fecal incontinence and constipation
Fecal incontinence — also referred to as bowel incontinence or bowel problems — involves
losing bowel control. It can range from leaking stool to involuntarily having a bowel
movement.
Constipation happens when you experience difficulty having bowel movements or you
have them less frequently than normal. While constipation can be a symptom of pelvic
organ prolapse, we provide treatment for constipation, because it can also make pelvic
organ prolapse worse.
Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when the bladder, uterus or cervix, rectum, intestines
or urethra drop into or out of the vagina. It results from the muscles and tissues
that support these organs, called the pelvic floor, becoming weakened or damaged.
Types of pelvic organ prolapse include:
Cystocele, also called bladder prolapse, when the bladder drops into the vagina or through
the vaginal opening
Enterocele, when the small intestines bulge into the vagina due to weakening of the support
to the top of the vagina
Rectocele, when the rectum bulges into the vagina because of a weakened vaginal wall
Urethrocele, when the urethra drops into the vagina
Uterine, when the uterus drops into the vagina or through the opening of the vagina
Vaginal vault, when the vaginal walls drop down toward the vagina’s opening or beyond, after the
uterus has been removed through hysterectomy
Urogynecologists are doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating pelvic floor
disorders. They are board-certified and fellowship-trained in female pelvic medicine
and reconstructive surgery, or urogynecology. Fellowships offer the highest level
of medical training.
Our specialists have not only received the highest level of training possible in urogynecology,
but they also focus solely on treating pelvic floor disorders. This training and focus
translates into a level of expertise that leads to better health outcomes.
Our team also includes a physician assistant (PA) who works closely with our urogynecologists
to increase access to care. Physician assistants are healthcare professionals who
have completed advanced training and are licensed to practice medicine under the close
supervision of a doctor.
New Patients
Before your first visit with Urogynecology, please download and fill out our New Patient
Form. We will collect this form from you when you check in for your appointment.
