Childbirth puts women at risk for pelvic floor disorders such as urinary or fecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, where the uterus or vagina “falls” from its usual position. It is estimated that as they age, more than 20 percent of women are affected with some type of pelvic floor related disorder.

With practices in both UT Southwestern University Hospital and Clinics and Parkland Health & Hospital System, our clinical services provide thorough assessment, careful diagnosis, and individualized treatment for women suffering from pelvic floor and urinary tract disorders.

We offer both surgical and non-surgical options and individualize treatment to meet each patient’s needs and lifestyle.

Coordination of Care

Coordination of care and attention to individual patient needs are emphasized within the Division.

Our comprehensive, non-surgical program for the management of pelvic floor disorders is staffed by nurse practitioners and physical therapists. These health care professionals, who are specialty trained in urogynecology, are integral patient care team members.

Our monthly Physical Therapy Conference provides an arena for physicians, nurse practitioners, and physical therapists to discuss patient care. Treatment planning and assessment of patient progress are the focus of this meeting. Similarly, patient care for all surgical cases for the upcoming week is discussed in weekly meetings with the Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery fellows and residents.

Focus on the Patient

Faculty members focus on the total patient during evaluation and treatment. Details regarding activity limitations, diet, and medical history help provide diagnostic information and treatment options for each patient, enabling physicians to develop individualized goals for each patient.

Our priority is to educate patients and encourage them to participate actively in the plan for their condition. Patients are invited to learn more about their condition via specialized web-based patient educational materials.

The Division has a fully equipped urodynamic laboratory capable of performing diagnostic studies to determine the cause of urinary and fecal incontinence and other pelvic floor disorders.

Available testing such as cystoscopy, urodynamic testing, electrodiagnostic testing, video urodynamics, defecography, ultrasonography, and pelvic MRI allow our staff to fully assess patients for pelvic floor pathology and dysfunction.

Treatment services available include:

• Physical therapist instruction on pelvic floor exercises and biofeedback techniques
• Behavioral and dietary modification
• Pessary fitting
• Pelvic muscle strengthening by electrostimulation
• Vaginal, abdominal, and laparoscopic pelvic surgery