Nonsurgical urogynecology treatments
Once your urogynecologic concern has been diagnosed, your provider will present all possible treatment options. Often, nonsurgical treatment is the first option explored as many nonsurgical options are noninvasive and have few, if any, side effects or risks. This page outlines some common nonsurgical treatment options to address urogynecologic conditions, as well as the conditions they commonly treat. For more information on any of these treatment options, call our office during regular office hours.
Exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor
Learning how to both control and relax the pelvic floor muscles can help patients gain control over issues including incontinence and other bladder concerns. Similar to Kegel exercises, these exercises can be done in conjunction with other therapies such as biofeedback or electrical stimulation (see below).
- Frequently used to treat conditions including incontinence, overactive bladder, pelvic organ prolapse and emptying disorders.
Fluid & dietary management
Some patients experience relief from bladder problems and voiding disorders by modifying diet and fluid intake. This can include eliminating foods, eating different foods, decreasing liquid intake, or changing an eating or drinking schedule.
- Frequently used to treat conditions including incontinence, overactive bladder, pelvic pain, bladder pain and emptying disorders.
Biofeedback training
Visual and audio clues teach patients when to contract and relax pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic biofeedback training can be done in our office or in your home with a take-home biofeedback unit.
- Frequently used to treat conditions including incontinence, overactive bladder, pelvic pain and pelvic organ prolapse.
Electrical stimulation therapy
Electrical stimulation therapy targets the nerves that control the bladder and reconditions them in an effort to improve symptoms of urgency, frequency and urge incontinence along with bladder emptying problems. This is often used by patients who do not tolerate or respond to medicine.
- Frequently used to treat conditions including urinary incontinence, overactive bladder and emptying disorders.
Behavior modification for bladder retraining
Some patients can benefit from drinking less liquid at certain times of day, or making an effort to urinate more often or before the bladder is completely full.
- Frequently used to treat conditions including urinary incontinence, overactive bladder and emptying disorders.
Pessary treatment
For a patient experiencing a prolapsed uterus or vagina, pessary treatment can provide immediate relief from pain. A silastic disc is used to form an internal frame on which the prolapsed organ can temporarily sit.
- Frequently used to treat conditions including pelvic organ prolapse and vaginal cosmetic issues.
Medicinal treatments
Medications can relax bladder muscles or prevent bladder contractions. Medicinal treatments are often used in combination with other therapies listed on this page or surgical treatment options.
- Frequently used to treat conditions including incontinence, overactive bladder and emptying disorders.
BOTOX®
While many people associate BOTOX® with cosmetic uses, BOTOX® can also be used to relax the bladder muscles. This can end or lessen urge incontinence. The effects of BOTOX® are temporary, so repeated injections are required for continued symptom relief.
- Frequently used to treat conditions including urinary incontinence and overactive bladder.
Collagen periurethral injections
Urinary incontinence can be caused when the bladder and urethra lose support from nearby muscles, ligaments and tissues. Collagen can be injected around the bladder and urethra to restore some of that support.
- Frequently used to treat conditions including urinary incontinence.
Hormone replacement therapy
As women age, hormones fluctuate. These fluctuations can cause or contribute to urogynecologic problems such as incontinence, pelvic and bladder pain, and even changes in vaginal appearance. Novant Health Urogynecology offers both standard and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to combat these concerns.
- Frequently used to treat conditions including urinary incontinence, pelvic pain and bladder pain.