Urogynecology

Experience compassionate care from expert urogynecologists specializing in your pelvic health and dedicated to helping you regain control and confidence.

At St. Elizabeth, we understand your journey to better health is personal and unique. That’s why we’re more than just your healthcare provider – we are partners who listen and truly understand your unique needs.

Pelvic floor conditions can have a significant impact on your quality of life.

Our compassionate team of fellowship-trained, board-certified urogynecologists is passionate about delivering complete, high-quality care that focuses on diagnosing and treating pelvic floor disorders. You can expect unwavering support and expertise as you regain bladder and bowel control, restore your confidence and improve your overall well being.

Urogynecology Conditions We Treat

We specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions that can affect your pelvic health. Our team provides complete solutions to get you back to enjoying the activities you love.

Schedule An Appointment

Please call us to schedule an appointment at (859) 757-2132.

We treat bladder conditions, including:

  • Bladder Obstruction: A condition with a blockage or obstruction affecting the normal flow of urine from the bladder.

  • Urinary Incontinence: Accidental urine leakage, often due to weakened pelvic floor muscles or bladder dysfunction.

  • Overactive Bladder: Frequent, sudden and urgent need to urinate even when the bladder is not full. It can lead to urine leakage if you cannot reach a restroom in time.

  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A condition when the pelvic organs (uterus, bladder or rectum) drop from their regular positions and bulge into the vaginal canal. Weak pelvic floor muscles, childbirth, menopause or other factors can cause prolapse. It often feels like pelvic pressure, heaviness or bulging in the vagina, urinary incontinence and discomfort during sexual intercourse.

  • Sexual Dysfunction: This occurs when urinary or fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse or other pelvic floor conditions affect your sexual function and intimacy. It can result from chronic pelvic pain and bladder and bowel conditions and include low desire, pain during intercourse, physical discomfort and anxiety.

We treat bowel conditions, including:

  • Bowel Obstruction: A partial or complete blockage in the small or large intestine prevents the typical passage of stool and waste fluids.
  • Fecal Incontinence: Occurs when you cannot control your bowel movements, which can lead to unintentional leakage or loss of stool.
  • Rectocele: A condition when the rectum bulges into the back wall of the vagina, leading to difficulty in passing stool and a sensation of incomplete bowel movements

  • Bowel Dysfunction: These conditions include abnormal bowel movements, such as constipation, diarrhea, straining, irregular bowel movements and difficulty emptying the bowels. It can be associated with pelvic floor muscle conditions or nerve issues.
  • Bowel Fistulas: Some urogynecology conditions can lead to an abnormal connection (fistula) between the bowel and nearby structures, such as the vagina, leading to fecal incontinence or stool disruption.

Urogynecology Treatments We Offer

We offer non-surgical and surgical options to treat pelvic floor conditions, correct the pelvic floor or repair damaged tissue or muscles.

Non-Surgical Treatments

You can access expert physicians who offer specialized treatments for conditions that affect your pelvic well being. These treatment options may include:

  • Lifestyle and Dietary Changes: Dietary adjustments, fluid management and timed bathroom breaks help manage symptoms like urinary frequency, urgency and incontinence.

  • Bladder Training: Improves bladder control by slowly increasing the time between urination to reduce urgency and frequency.
  • Medications: Treat bladder, bowel and sexual health conditions by reducing symptoms or addressing underlying causes.
  • Neuromodulation: Electrical stimulation in the sacral or percutaneous tibial nerve that controls the bladder and bowel nerves.
  • Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy: Improves pelvic floor muscle strength, coordination and flexibility using exercises, manual therapy and biofeedback techniques.
  • Vaginal Pessaries: A device inserted into the vagina to support and lift the pelvic organs to relieve symptoms.

Surgical Treatments and Approaches

Surgeons perform many procedures for pelvic floor conditions using minimally invasive techniques, such as advanced laparoscopic and robotic approaches. These approaches allow faster healing with reduced scarring. Surgical treatment options may include:

  • Fistula Repair: Treatment to surgically repair abnormal connections (fistulas) between the bladder, rectum or vagina, helping to restore normal bladder or bowel function.

  • Hysterectomy: Surgical removal of the uterus, sometimes combined with other procedures, such as prolapse repair or sling placement, to treat multiple conditions.

  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair: Involves surgically restoring the normal position and support of pelvic organs, often using your own tissue.

  • Robotic-Assisted Surgery: A minimally invasive approach that offers greater precision and visualization of the condition and can result in a quicker recovery.

  • Sacral Nerve Stimulation: Implanting a device to deliver mild electrical impulses to the sacral nerves reducing bladder or bowel function when the bladder is overactive or if diagnosed with fecal incontinence.
  • Sling Procedures: The surgical placement of a mesh or tape support under the urethra or bladder to treat stress urinary incontinence and bolster the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.

If you are experiencing pelvic floor conditions such as bowel or bladder changes or pelvic pain, please call us to schedule an appointment at (859) 757-2132.

Menopause & Perimenopause

Perimenopause and menopause signal new life stages for every woman. The compassionate, expert team at St. Elizabeth Women’s Health offers guidance and evidence-based care. No matter what you’re experiencing as you enter this new phase of life, we’re right here for you every step of the way.

Therapy Session with patient and provider.

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

Pelvic floor physical therapists offer vital services that can address strengthening the pelvic floor muscles, pain and symptom reduction and improved function to help with conditions such as overactive bladder, bowel leakage, pelvic pain and other issues.

Dr. Becky Heidemann Speaks with a Patient. View Patient Success Stories

Urogyncology Patient Success Stories

Individuals like Ann, Donna, Kathy and countless others who face pelvic floor conditions inspire us here at St. Elizabeth. We’re passionate about bringing you the expert care you deserve so you can get back to living your best life.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Call Us to Schedule a Visit

If you are experiencing any symptoms, please call (859) 757-2132 to schedule an appointment.

Get Directions & Learn More