Treating Women's Pelvic Floor Pain at University Hospitals

Female pelvic health specialists at University Hospitals are leaders in diagnosing, managing and treating pelvic health issues for women. An initial comprehensive consultation includes an appointment with a fellowship-trained female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery specialist, a pelvic floor physical therapist and a trained counselor including an in-depth screening, history and physical exam.

With a range of multidisciplinary expertise in urology, gynecology, urogynecology, women’s behavioral health and pelvic physical therapy, we manage a full range of female pelvic floor issues, including:

• Female pelvic floor disorders
• Overactive bladder
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Female sexual dysfunction, including pelvic pain
• Urinary incontinence in women

Because weak pelvic muscles may be the cause of many of these issues, it is critical to strengthen pelvic floor muscles to improve function and relieve symptoms.

Pelvic Physical Therapists Provide Advanced Training

Pelvic health physical therapy improves function, independence and quality of life for patients with pelvic floor muscle disorders.

After a diagnosis is confirmed, most women are referred to the pelvic floor physical therapists through rehabilitation services at University Hospitals. They help train patients to strengthen pelvic muscles and reduce pelvic pain symptoms, incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse symptoms. Our certified pelvic floor rehabilitation therapists work alongside patients to:

• Evaluate muscles of the pelvic floor's function and strength
• Formulate a personalized plan of care
• Use the latest pelvic floor rehabilitation therapy exercises to build strength

Multiple Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Therapy Offerings

We also offer a broad variety of medical and non-medical options to treat pelvic floor conditions. With advanced research at University Hospitals, our pelvic health specialists have seen significant improvement in using Botox for pelvic pain. When the symptoms of chronic pelvic pain may be caused by short, tight, and tender pelvic floor muscles, called myofascial pelvic pain syndrome, Botox injections may significantly improve pain and tenderness.

Other proven strategies to help women with pelvic floor issues may include:

• Acupuncture: Using points on the body for acupuncture, this treatment can help calm and dissipate genital, nerve and pelvic muscle pain. This complementary treatment can be used for a weak or tight pelvic floor to either promote relaxation of the tissue or facilitate muscle recruitment.
• Combination therapy: This includes a combination of medications, acupuncture, pelvic physical therapy and other nonsurgical methods to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
• Counseling: Living with pelvic floor issues such as chronic pain can be stressful and upsetting, so counseling may be helpful as part of an overall treatment plan.
• Surgery: If non-surgical therapies do not resolve symptoms or for more complex pelvic organ prolapse conditions, robotic-assisted surgery may be recommended.