SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton: Protecting Your Pelvic Health

Press release from SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton:

December 27, 2021

Pelvic floor tissues, muscles and organs work together, 24/7. For women, many factors can affect how well you’re able to support your bladder, sexual organs and bowels. Pregnancy and giving birth, as well as physical injury, menopause and other hormonal changes can impact pelvic health.

“When pelvic floor muscles and the accompanying support structure become weak or compromised, women can experience a variety of challenges that affect bodily function and quality of life,” said SSM Health Urogynecologist Dr. Bruce Drummond.

The good news is that there are many ways SSM Health can help. Urogynecologists, like Dr. Drummond, are surgeons who provide specialized care for women who have pelvic floor disorders. Our experienced physicians can help treat a variety of pelvic issues, such as:

• Incontinence: experiencing accidental urinating or bowel leakage.
• Prolapse: the descent of pelvic organs.
• Overactive bladder: the frequent need to urinate, having bladder pressure, or urgency when urinating.
• Emptying disorder: when one has difficulty urinating or having a complete bowel movement.
• Pain or sexual disfunction: can greatly affect day to day life and overall well-being.

At SSM Health, we believe in treating every patient as a whole person. Although diagnosing pelvic floor disorders can be complex, our team always takes the time to listen and complete a thorough examination. We also understand that some women may feel embarrassed to bring up symptoms of pelvic floor disorders or feel that their challenges are ‘just a part of life’ they must accept.

“This shouldn’t be the case: I can assure you that our team has seen these symptoms many times before in women of all ages,” Drummond said. “There is no need to shy from asking for help.”

Women who are experiencing symptoms of pelvic floor disorders should speak with their primary care provider for initial guidance, as there are many non-surgical and surgical options that can help. In other cases, your primary care physician may also refer you to a specialist, like Dr. Drummond.

To find a provider or learn more about the full spectrum of Women’s Health services at SSM Health please visit ssmhealth.com/womenshealth.

This press release was produced by SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.