GYN Doctors serving patients in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk & Portsmouth
A Gynecology Specialists note: Below is an excellent article from the American Urogynecologic Society that separates fact from fiction when it comes to pelvic floor disorders.
For decades, our Gyn doctors have been helping women in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and throughout Hampton Roads with pelvic floor disorders. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact our GYN Clinic at (757) 312-8221.
Pelvic Floor Disorders 101: Fact or Fiction
1. One in three women will experience a pelvic floor disorder (PFD) in her lifetime.
Answer: True
PFDs occur when women have weakened pelvic muscles or tears in the connective tissue, which may cause pelvic organ prolapse, bladder control problems, or bowel control problems.
2. PFDs include bladder control problems, bowel control problems, and pelvic organ prolapse.
Answer: True
• Pelvic organ prolapse is the dropping of the bladder, urethra, cervix and rectum caused by the loss of normal support of the vagina. In severe cases, women may feel bulging tissue protruding through the opening of the vagina.
• Bladder control problems include the inability to hold urine long enough to reach the restroom (urge incontinence), frequent urination during the day and night (urge frequency), and urine leakage caused by increased abdominal pressure (stress incontinence). Urgency frequency and urge incontinence are also defined as overactive bladder.
• Bowel control problems include the loss of normal control of the bowels that can lead to constipation or fecal incontinence (FI). FI, leakage of solid liquid stool or gas, is also called anal incontinence (AI) and accidental bowel leakage (ABL).
3. All of the following items can affect a PFD:
• Exercise
• Coughing
• Laughing
• Sneezing
• Caffeine
• Age
• Vaginal childbirth
• Emotional stress
• Ethnicity
Answer: True
4. Surgery is the only way to fix a PFD unless you want to just wear pads.
Answer: False
Women in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and throughout the U.S. do not have to suffer in silence or simply manage a PFD with pads. There are several non-surgical and surgical treatment options. PFDs can be effectively treated by working with a Gyn doctor to develop a treatment plan for your individual needs.
5. PFDs are a normal part of aging.
Answer: False
PFDs are not a normal part of aging, although they become more common as women get older. With the help of a Gyn doctor, there are effective treatments for PFDs.
6. Having children increases the risk of suffering from PFDs.
Answer: True
Childbirth can contribute to the development of PFDs. Vaginal births double the rate of pelvic floor disorders compared to Cesarean deliveries or women who never gave birth.
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Please contact our GYN Clinic at (757) 312-8221 or by clicking here if you have any questions.
About our GYN doctor and clinic
Our all-female practice covers a wide spectrum of gyn and health issues. Since 2004 each GYN doctor at Gynecology Specialists has been caring for women and teens with pelvic floor disorders in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Portsmouth.
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