Urogynecology expertise at Inova
Many women experience changes in their pelvic health as time goes on, but these conditions can be treated safely and effectively. At Inova, our urogynecologists have pioneered surgical procedures and innovations in patient care that are world firsts.
If you have new or unusual pain, discomfort, or other pelvic symptoms, you may wish to schedule a visit with your primary care doctor or gynecologist for an exam. After a pelvic examination and a discussion of your symptoms, you may then be referred to a urogynecologist. A urogynecologist is a specialist in pelvic-floor health with extensive training in obstetrics and gynecology, urology, colorectal surgery, neurology and physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Do you experience any of the following?
- Do you experience urine leakage related to coughing, sneezing, laughing, standing up or walking?
- Do you experience urine leakage associated with a feeling of urgency, such as running to the bathroom, leakage before making it to the bathroom, the sound of running water, or putting a key in a door?
- Do you experience a feeling of incomplete emptying of your bladder?
- Do you have a bulge or something falling out that you can see or feel in your vaginal area?
- Do you have painful intercourse since the delivery of your child?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, you may need to see a Urogynecologist.
Inova Fairfax Medical Campus: Center of Excellence
Inova Women's Hospital and the affiliated Urogynecology practices (Inova Medical Group Urogynecology and Mid-Atlantic Urogynecology) have been designated as Center of Excellence by the National Association for Continence.
The Center of Excellence designation was established to recognize centers and facilities that excel in providing bladder and bowel health care to patients, and to assist consumers dealing with pelvic floor dysfunction and incontinence issues in searching for an expert. The Center of Excellence designation is based on evidence of training, clinical experience, resources, and patient satisfaction statistics that meet established standards. These rigorous standards ensure that each center that is designated a Center of Excellence is truly exceptional at providing care for patients with pelvic floor dysfunction and incontinence.
What is urogynecology?
Urogynecology combines principles from multiple disciplines including obstetrics and gynecology, urology, colorectal surgery, neurology and physical medicine and rehabilitation in order to address female pelvic floor disorders in a comprehensive fashion. All the physicians in the section of Urogynecology are fellowship trained in the management of pelvic floor disorders including urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse as well as in the management of complex benign gynecologic conditions such as vaginal fistula, childbirth injuries and vaginal reconstruction.
When is it time to see a urogynecologist?
If your condition warrants a consultation with a urogynecologist, Inova has dedicated teams of specialists.
The multidisciplinary team that participates in the care of patients at Inova Fairfax meets regularly to discuss complex cases and includes physicians from the section of urogynecology, colorectal surgery and radiology. In addition, physical therapists with specialty interests in female pelvic floor disorders and pelvic pain are directly involved in a large volume of patients with these conditions.
Urogynecology conditions treated at Inova Women's Hospital (Inova Fairfax Medical Campus)
- Correction of vaginal mutilation surgeries
- Developmental variations requiring corrective surgery
- Fecal incontinence
- Mesh erosion, eroded slings, surgical complications
- Incomplete bladder emptying
- Laser treatment for genitourinary symptoms of menopause
- Levator ani injury / avulsion associated with vaginal birth
- Perineal injury associated with vaginal birth
- Rectal fullness or prolapse
- Urinary frequency, urgency, nocturia
- Uterine fibroids
- Uterine prolapse
- Vaginal agenesis / MRKH
- Vaginal prolapse (Cystocele, Rectocele, Enterocele)
- Vaginal stenosis or non-functional vagina (Narrowing of vaginal diameter and length requiring corrective surgery)
Urogynecology team at Inova Women's Hospital