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(352) 733-0111

Conditions and treatments

The UF Health Pelvic Floor Program takes a multidisciplinary approach to diagnose and treat pelvic floor disorders, which are conditions that affect bowel and bladder function.

Women in search of a personalized program for improving their pelvic floor function can be seen at multiple UF Health locations. Our team understands how socially debilitating loss of bowel and bladder control can be. You do not have to suffer in silence. We have the only fellowship-trained female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery physicians in North Central Florida. Our gynecologic surgeons use a collaborative approach to treat women with pelvic floor disorders, including urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic pain.

Our multidisciplinary team includes specialists from colorectal surgery, gastroenterology, gynecologic surgery, urology and physical therapy who work together to address multiple conditions a single patient may be experiencing. Our treatment plans are tailored to you to improve your quality of life.

Conditions

Treatments

Our skilled gynecologists perform from the most common to the most advanced of gynecologic procedures and surgeries. Treatments include:

Diagnostic procedures

The UF Health Pelvic Floor Program has a broad range of methods to identify your issue and move past your disorder. This suite of techniques consists of several imaging and functional tests.

Imaging

  • Pelvic ultrasound — Evaluates the pelvic organs/structures, including the uterus, ovaries and bladder.
  • Fistulogram — Evaluates the tissue between pelvic organs, looking for abnormal connections called fistula.
  • Voiding cystogram — Evaluates the function of the bladder and urethra.
  • Anal ultrasound — Evaluates the structure of the sphincter and surrounding tissue. This is useful to produce images of the internal and external anatomy of the anal sphincter.
  • MRI Defecography — Evaluates how well stool is evacuated from the rectum.
  • CT Urogram — Evaluates the upper urinary tract, including the ureters and kidneys.

Functional testing

  • Anorectal manometry — Measures the resting and squeeze pressures in the anal canal in regards to fecal incontinence and constipation, determining the sensitivity and function of the rectum.
  • Urodynamics — Bladder studies that measure bladder pressures during bladder filling and emptying to aid in determining the cause of urinary symptoms.
  • Cystoscopy — Test that allows the inside of the bladder and urethra to be visualized.

Therapies and other treatments

Physical therapy

Specially trained therapists guide a patient through instruction of exercises that specifically target the pelvic floor muscles for strengthening.

To help a patient identify and learn to control the correct muscles, a technology called Biofeedback uses computer graphs or lights as a teaching tool to assist the patient in locating the pelvic muscles by changing the graph or light when the right muscle is squeezed or tightened.

In women, a small probe is inserted into the vagina (similar to a tampon). In men, and sometimes in women, an even smaller probe is inserted into the rectum. This probe senses the muscle activity. Sometimes surface electrodes (sticky patches) are placed around the outside of your rectum instead of using a probe.

Prolapse repairs

Prolapse repairs can be performed transvaginally, transabdominally, laparoscopically, or robotic-assisted, depending on the patient’s symptoms, anatomy and overall health.

UF Health’s expert physicians also conduct minimally invasive surgeries to help treat prolapse. These operations may involve small incisions that are used to access and repair pelvic organs that have fallen. These approaches have the benefit of faster recovery and less downtime.

Our team also offers non-surgical management of prolapse. This includes simple observation or the use of a pessary, which is a small device made of silicone, often shaped like a diaphragm or a cube, which is inserted into the vagina of a woman to help support her pelvic organs. Pessaries are used to treat pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence. A physician will need to fit you for the device.

Sacral nerve stimulator (Interstim®)

This is an FDA approved outpatient treatment for patients who have failed conservative therapy for symptoms or urinary urgency, frequency, and nonobstructive urinary retention. It is performed in two stages where an electrode is placed through an existing opening in the sacrum. A testing period of a few days to few weeks is completed to ensure that the device works for the patient. If it does, then an internal generator is placed, and if it does not, the lead is simply removed.

Sling procedures

Typically used for patients with urinary incontinence due to exertional activities. There are a number of variations, but it typically involves the placement of a synthetic mesh to support the urethra. This is performed in a minimally invasive fashion and is often done on an outpatient basis.

Anti-incontinence

Our expert team also offers one of several methods to combat incontinence, which refers to any accidental or involuntary loss of control of the bladder or bowel. There are different anti-incontinence procedures, products and medications that can be offered, and your physician will evaluate your symptoms to determine the best treatment method for you.

Urethral bulking agent

An in-office or outpatient procedure where an agent is injected transurethrally to improve coaptation of the lining of the urethra to treat urinary incontinence.

Treatment of operative complications

Some patients have already undergone surgery for prolapse or incontinence and are having complications, recurrence of symptoms or other difficulties. We welcome these patients, and provide specialized care for their individual needs.