Expert care at women's pelvic health program
The inability to control bladder function (urinary incontinence) or rectal function (fecal incontinence) can affect people of all ages. Although incontinence is a medical problem, it can affect emotional, psychological and social well-being also. Many people are afraid to participate in routine, daily activities because they're afraid of having an accident. Contrary to popular belief, though, incontinence isn't a normal part of aging or an inevitable consequence of having children, and most incontinence problems can be successfully treated with the help of our specialists at our Women’s Pelvic Health Program.
Our specializations
We're experts on different types of urinary incontinence as well as the causes behind fecal incontinence.
Types of urinary incontinence we treat:
- Stress incontinence
- Urge incontinence
- Mixed incontinence
- Environmental (functional) incontinence
Causes of fecal incontinence we treat:
- Childbirth injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Colorectal tumors
- Neurologic diseases
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Previous rectal surgery
- Diabetes
- Aging
Thorough diagnostics
Because there are so many types and causes of incontinence, a comprehensive evaluation is critical to developing the best treatment plan for your case. For that reason, we offer a full range of diagnostic services, including:
Urinary incontinence diagnostic tests:
- Urinalysis and culture
- Catheterization for residual volume
- Cystoscopy
- Stress testing
- Urodynamic testing
- Uroflowmetry
- Cystometry
- Urethral pressure profilometry
- Pressure / voiding studies
- EMG studies of muscle function
- Bladder X-ray studies
Fecal incontinence diagnostic tests:
- Sigmoidoscopy
- Colonoscopy
- Barium X-ray studies such as defecogram
- Manometric studies of sphincter function
- EMG studies of muscle function
- Ultrasound of sphincter muscles
Advanced treatment
Our Women’s Pelvic Health Program is home to the latest treatment options for incontinence. There are special exercises and training programs designed to improve bladder and bowel control that involve behavior and diet modifications. Biofeedback techniques can also help improve control of the bladder, bowel and pelvic floor muscles. In addition, pelvic floor stimulation involves painless electrical stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles to increase strength and enhance bladder and bowel control. Several different medications and surgical techniques can also be highly successful in treating certain types of incontinence. You and your doctor will determine the best treatment course for you based on your diagnostic results.
Our multidisciplinary team
Choosing our Women’s Pelvic Health Program for your care means you'll have access to a team of multi-disciplinary doctors with special training in treating incontinence. Our experts include:
- Colorectal surgeons: Specialize in problems of the colon, rectum and anus, with special emphasis on motility disorders including constipation, diarrhea and incontinence.
- Urogynecologists: Specialize in problems of the reproductive system and lower urinary tract in women.
- Urologists: Specialize in problems of the urinary tract in women and the urinary tract and reproductive system in men.
- Gastroenterologists: Specialize in problems related to the gastrointestinal tract with special emphasis on motility disorders, including constipation, diarrhea and incontinence.
Our location
Address:
Women’s Pelvic Health Program
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
1775 Dempster St.
1st Floor
Park Ridge, IL 60068
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