Urogynecology

Find the support you need from a skilled Ballad Health urogynecologist in East Tennessee or Southwest Virginia who diagnoses and treats conditions that affect the female pelvic organs and pelvic floor. The pelvic floor is the muscles and connective tissue that support the bladder, uterus, vagina and rectum and help the organs work.

Conditions we treat

Rely on the urogynecologists at Ballad Health for complete care of your pelvic conditions such as:

• Fistula – Abnormal opening between organs, such as the bladder, vagina or colon
• Incontinence – Loss of control over your bladder or bowels
• Overactive bladder – Frequent or urgent need to urinate
• Painful bladder syndrome (interstitial cystitis)
• Pelvic pain
• Pelvic organ prolapse

Diagnosing pelvic conditions

At your first visit, your doctor will discuss your symptoms and review your medical history. He or she may recommend tests to help diagnose your condition and determine the best treatment, including:

• Cystourethroscopy – Uses a thin tube with a tiny camera on the end to inspect the bladder and urethra
• Ultrasound – Uses sound waves to make pictures of your pelvic organs
• Urodynamic test – Shows how well your bladder muscles work
• Anoscopy – Used to examine and visualize the anal canal

You’ll appreciate our compassionate, experienced staff who’ll help you feel as comfortable and at ease as possible during your procedure.

Rely on your doctor to explain your test results and create a treatment plan with you to fit your needs.

Pelvic treatments for women

Partner with Ballad Health for excellent nonsurgical treatments and surgical options for your pelvic problems. Your care may begin with one or more of these nonsurgical approaches to help relieve your symptoms:

• Pelvic floor therapy – a treatment to help patients learn to strengthen and relax their pelvic muscles in order to improve bladder and bowel function
• Nutritional counseling, to help avoid common bladder irritants, such as caffeine, artificial sweeteners and citrus juices
• Lifestyle changes, including weight loss, bladder training and Kegel exercises
• Medication – Controls symptoms and pain
• Pessary – Uses an implant in the vagina to support your pelvic organs
• Physical therapy – Relieves pain and incontinence and helps support organs though exercise

Surgical procedures

Your doctor may recommend a minimally invasive procedure or robotic-assisted surgery if nonsurgical treatments don’t help enough. Some surgeons at Ballad Health use the da Vinci® surgical robot to perform gynecologic surgery more precisely. These procedures can help you heal faster and with less pain.

You’ll find these urogynecologic surgeries at Ballad Health:

• Fistula repair – Closes tissue between the vagina and rectum to relieve incontinence
• Robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy – Uses special tools to surgically repair pelvic organ prolapse
• Sling placement – Uses tissue or mesh to create a sling around your urethra or bladder to help prevent incontinence
• Sphincteroplasty – Repairs torn or weakened sphincter muscles to help control bowel movements
• Vaginal reconstruction – Reconstructs the pelvic floor to correct prolapse and incontinence