Bladder and Pelvic Floor Health
If you think that urinary incontinence and bladder
problems only affect elderly women, think again.
Bladder and pelvic floor health issues are also
common among younger, more active women as well.
Nearly 13 million Americans have experienced
some form of incontinence, including women in
their teens, 20's and 30's.
Because of the embarrassment associated with urinary
incontinence and other bladder or pelvic
floor disorders, many women suffer in silence.
Daily tasks may become more difficult, since
coughing, laughing or sneezing may trigger
an accident. Fortunately, there are now simple
solutions and enhanced treatments available
for these disorders.
What are Bladder and Pelvic Floor Disorders?
Bladder
and pelvic floor disorders, also known as urogynecologic
disorders, include
any pain or dysfunction in the area of the uterus,
cervix, vagina, bladder or rectum. The primary
types of bladder and pelvic floor disorders are:
- Urinary incontinence – two main types of urinary incontinence are:
- Stress
Incontinence – Tiny leaks
that occur when motion stresses the
bladder. These motions may include
coughing, sneezing or laughing.
- Urge
Incontinence – Also called “overactive
bladder,” this is the urgent
need to go to the bathroom followed
by an involuntary loss of urine.
- Fecal incontinence – the involuntary loss
of solid or liquid stool that can result in
impaired quality of life for an individual
- Pelvic organ prolapse – described as a fallen
bladder, uterus, vagina or rectum
- Fistulas – vesicovaginal or
rectovaginal - an opening between the wall
of the vagina and the wall of the bladder or
rectum which can lead to urine leakage
- Complex benign conditions of the vagina and
urethra such as vaginal cysts, absence of vagina,
and urethral diverticulums
- Other problems with urination or pelvic floor
Who is Affected?
Although urogynecologic problems can affect
women of any age, post-menopausal women and women
who have given birth are more likely to be experience
these problems. Pregnancy and childbirth can damage
the tissues supporting the pelvic organs, while
bladder support naturally weakens as a women ages.
All of these factors can lead to weakened supportive
tissue and damage to the nerves that control bladder
function.
Learn about Penn's services for bladder and
pelvic floor problems >>
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