Navigating Pelvic Health: What Women Need to Know
(BPT) - As women navigate the natural milestones of life, including pregnancy, perimenopause and post-menopause, the topic of pelvic health is too often overlooked as a core component of long-term well-being. But understanding the role of pelvic health as well as recognizing and seeking care for related issues can help you embrace every chapter of life with confidence.
Pelvic health refers to the proper function of the bladder, bowel and reproductive organs, along with the support provided by the pelvic floor muscles, nerves and other tissues. These muscles help the body keep the pelvic organs in place, sustain bladder and bowel control and maintain sexual function.
But when the muscles of the pelvic floor become weakened or stop working properly, they can lead to what are known as pelvic floor disorders (PFD).
Recognizing Common Pelvic Health Challenges
PFDs are common, with one in two women experiencing involuntary leakage of urine. PFDs occur when the muscles or tissues of the pelvic area become weakened or injured due to childbirth, age or other conditions/factors, like diabetes. Some common PFDs include:
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP):This may occur when weakened pelvic muscles can no longer support one or more organs (vagina, uterus, bladder, rectum), causing them to drop from their normal position or press into or out of the vagina. The symptoms of POP can range from discomfort to significant pain, interference with sexual function and impacts to daily activities.
- Urinary Incontinence:This can occur as a frequent, urgent need to urinate or as unintentional leakage, often triggered by everyday actions like laughing, coughing or sneezing - moments that should be carefree, not cause for concern.
While the symptoms of PFDs may vary depending on the specific disorder, it's important to understand the signs so you can speak to your doctor about potential treatment options.
Initial Treatment Options to Help Restore Pelvic Health
While each woman's pelvic health journey will be different, there are a wide range of options to explore that can help address conditions such as POP and urinary incontinence, based on symptoms and the severity of those symptoms.
- Lifestyle Changes: Simple lifestyle adjustments may make a difference. Limiting things that can irritate the bladder like caffeinated, carbonated or alcoholic beverages can alleviate pressure and improve symptoms, offering a gentle first step toward some relief.
- Medication:For some types of incontinence, when lifestyle changes aren't enough, a doctor may recommend targeted medications that may help manage bladder control issues, providing another avenue for symptom relief and improved comfort.
- Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy (PPT):PPT offers a path to strengthen and re-train crucial pelvic muscles. Through specialized exercises and techniques, PPT may improve muscle tone and function, which may lead to enhanced bladder control.
- Pessary:A pessary is a discreet non-surgical option that provides internal support for POP. This removable silicone device is fitted inside the vagina to gently hold pelvic organs in place and may improve bladder control.
Exploring Minimally Invasive and Surgical Options
When initial treatment options don't provide sufficient relief, minimally invasive and surgical options are available to restore pelvic floor function.
There are several surgical options for treating POP, depending on the exact nature and severity of the prolapse. These can include procedures like sacrocolpopexies, sacrohysteropexies or native tissue repair where a surgeon lifts the affected organs back into place, securing them with either mesh products or the patient's own tissues.
For urinary incontinence, there are various procedures that can provide long-lasting symptom relief and help prevent urine leakage. Depending on the type of urinary incontinence you have and your specific needs, a physician may recommend one or more treatment options. If you have stress urinary incontinence, one minimally invasive treatment involves a mid-urethral sling that provides support to the tissue under the urethra. Alternatively, bulking agents, made up of gel-like materials, may be used to fill out the tissue surrounding the urethra, increasing resistance to urine leakage and providing additional support during physical activity.
Urinary incontinence can also be a symptom of overactive bladder (OAB), which causes the frequent and urgent need to empty your bladder. One potential cause of OAB is nerve damage, which may disrupt signals between your brain and bladder. Sacral neuromodulation therapy is delivered through a small device implanted in the back that sends mild electrical impulses through your sacral nerve. This stimulation may help restore the signals between your brain and bladder, reducing your trips to the bathroom.
Talk to your doctor about your specific symptoms and personalized treatment options best suited to your needs.
Taking Control of Your Pelvic Health Journey
Pelvic health is an integral part of your comfort, confidence and overall well-being. If you are experiencing pelvic pain, incontinence or other pelvic health concerns, it is important to be proactive. Consult a specialist such as a urologist or urogynecologist who specializes in PFDs to understand your condition and the potential treatment options.
Boston Scientific offers various options that are designed to offer durable, long-term treatment for both POP and urinary incontinence, helping you reclaim an active life. A quiz and additional resources on treatment options can be found at chooseyou.com.
CAUTION: U.S. Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.
Potential risks associated with Boston Scientific Mid-Urethral Sling Products:
The following adverse events and known risks have been reported due to suburethral (beneath the urethra) mesh sling placement, any of which may be ongoing, but are not limited to: Abscess (swollen area within the body tissue, containing a buildup of pus), Allergic reaction to the implant, Apareunia (inability to perform sexual intercourse), Bleeding from the vagina, Hematoma formation (bruising), Complete failure of the procedure/failure to resolve a patient's stress urinary incontinence, Dehiscence of vaginal incision (opening of the incision after surgery), De novo detrusor instability (involuntary contraction of the bladder wall leading to an urge to urinate), Dyspareunia (pain during sexual intercourse), Edema and erythema at the surgical site (swelling and redness), Fistula formation (a hole/passage that develops through the wall of the organs) that may be acute or chronic, Foreign body reaction (body's response to the implant) that may be acute or chronic, Infection, Inflammation that may be acute or chronic (redness, heat, pain or swelling at the surgical site as a result of the surgery), Irritation (redness or pain) at surgical site, Leg weakness (muscle weakness), Mesh contracture (mesh shrinkage), Erosion into the following organs: urethra, bladder, or other surrounding tissues and exposure/extrusion into the vagina (when the mesh goes through the vagina into other organs or surrounding tissue), Pain or discomfort to the patient's partner during intercourse, Pain/Ongoing Pain/Severe/Chronic Pain in the pelvis, vagina, groin/thigh, and suprapubic area that may be acute or chronic (pain or ongoing pain just above the pubic bone, pelvis, vagina, groin/thigh area that may be severe and could last for a long time), Pain with intercourse that may not resolve, Perforation or laceration of vessels, nerves, bladder, urethra or bowel (a hole in or damage to these or other tissues that may happen during placement), Scarring, scar contracture (tightening of the scar), Stone formation (as a result of mesh erosion/exposure/extrusion in the urethra or bladder where the mesh is exposed to urine, mineral deposits may form along the mesh, also known as stones), Tissue contracture (tightening of the tissue), Voiding dysfunction: incontinence, temporary or permanent lower urinary tract obstruction, difficulty urinating, pain with urination, overactive bladder, and retention (involuntary leakage of urine or reduced or complete inability to empty the bladder from the mesh being implanted too tightly beneath the urethra). The following additional adverse events have been reported for the Solyx SIS System: Dysuria (painful/difficult urination), Hematuria (blood in the urine). The occurrence of these events may require surgical intervention and possible removal of the entire mesh. In some instances, these events may be permanent after surgery or other treatments. Removal of mesh or correction of mesh-related complications may involve multiple surgeries. Complete removal of mesh may not be possible and additional surgeries may not always fully correct the complications.
Source: BrandPoint
