If you’re looking for solutions for pelvic health issues, you’ve come to the right place. Here you’ll find various options to help treat pelvic health problems, including urinary incontinence, Pelvic organ prolapse, and even Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS). Proper knowledge about these different treatments can help determine which method suits you.
Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is a common problem for many women. This can affect your lifestyle and your emotional well-being. It can be challenging to live with, but there are ways to treat it.
First, make sure you see a healthcare professional. Your doctor can perform a pelvic examination and urine test to diagnose incontinence. They may also ask you to journal how often you urinate and how much fluid you drink.
You can improve your condition through physical therapy if your incontinence is caused by pelvic floor muscle weakness. You can use pelvic health solutions like Kegel exercises to strengthen the muscles. There are also absorbent products available for you to use.
Other treatments include a urinary catheter. These small, bell-shaped devices are placed into the vagina at the beginning of the day. They can be worn all day or for specific activities.
Surgery is another treatment option. A surgeon can remove or repair damaged tissue in the vaginal area. Patients can also receive electrical nerve stimulation to send mild electric currents to nerves that surround the bladder.
Many people also find relief by changing their diet. Alcohol, caffeine, and other irritants in the body can cause incontinence. Eliminating these can reduce your risk of incontinence.
Lifestyle changes are also effective in treating urinary incontinence. For instance, keeping a bathroom clean and clutter-free can help prevent leakage. Try to avoid drinking beverages before bedtime.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
When it comes to pelvic organ prolapse (POP), there are several solutions. Some are surgical, while others are non-surgical. These options are tailored to the patient’s individual needs. It is important to note that there are risks associated with both surgical and nonsurgical treatments.
To determine which treatment is best for you, your healthcare provider will examine your history, symptoms and overall health. The severity of the prolapse will also influence the type of treatment recommended.
Nonsurgical treatments for pelvic organ prolapse include vaginal pessaries, pelvic floor muscle exercises and biofeedback. If these options don’t work, you may need to consider surgery.
Pelvic organ prolapse is one of the more common conditions. It affects millions of women. However, many of them aren’t aware of the different treatments available. This can lead to frustration and discomfort.
The first treatment option is usually a pessary. Pessaries are silicone devices that help hold the organs in place. These devices can be used to treat mild to moderate cases of POP.
For more severe cases, surgeons may use an abdominal repair procedure. This can be done as an open surgery or a laparoscopic surgery. A CT scan of the pelvis can also help rule out other conditions.
You might suffer from a pelvic organ prolapse if you experience a leaking anus or fecal incontinence. Several nonsurgical treatments can help you get back to your everyday life.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback for pelvic health is a non-invasive technique that can help patients strengthen their pelvic floor muscles and improve their bladder control. A study has found that it may enhance a woman’s chances of successfully curing urinary incontinence.
Pelvic floor muscle retraining involves using sensors that monitor the muscles in the pelvic area. These devices display graphs that show the contraction of the muscles. This helps the patient to identify which muscles are contracting correctly.
Biofeedback can be performed in a clinical setting or at home. It is designed to increase patient awareness of muscle activity and encourage compliance with a home exercise program.
Biofeedback uses auditory, visual, and tactile feedback to measure the body’s response to stimuli. These devices can be placed in the anal canal, perineum, or rectally. The signals are fed back to the patient and are monitored by a registered nurse.
Biofeedback for pelvic health combines the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) with electromyographic biofeedback. Women are given a device to see how their muscles work. They can use this feedback to learn how to strengthen and relax their pelvic floor muscles.
The benefits of biofeedback for pelvic health include increased buy-in to the exercise program and improved proprioceptive awareness. Studies have shown that the participants in the group receiving biofeedback are more motivated to complete the program and have better functional outcomes.
Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS)
Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS) is a new form of treatment for overactive bladder. It is a minimally invasive procedure that targets nerve roots that control the bladder.
PTNS uses a thin needle electrode to stimulate the tibial nerve. The stimulation is administered for 15-30 minutes during each session.
PTNS may be helpful in patients with overactive bladder who have tried and failed medications. Studies have shown that two out of three patients with overactive bladder experience a significant reduction in symptoms.
PTNS is a safe and effective nonsurgical option that has no side effects. Patients typically only need to receive treatments once a month to maintain the improvements they have made.
If you are considering PTNS, discussing the process with your physician is essential. Some patients experience a mild aching at the insertion site. Others experience redness and bleeding.
PTNS is an excellent nonsurgical alternative for patients unable to take oral medications because of side effects. However, it is not recommended for pregnant women.
Although PTNS is relatively new, it has shown a response rate of 80%. It is also considered a logical next step in the algorithm of care.
PTNS therapy can be provided in an office setting. However, it is inappropriate for patients with cardiac pacemakers or hemorrhagic disorders.