Women's Pelvic Health

The pelvic floor refers to the muscles, ligaments, connective tissues and nerves that support and help pelvic organs function. In women, these organs include the bladder, uterus, vagina and rectum.

Almost one-quarter of women face pelvic floor disorders, yet many don’t realize these conditions respond well to treatment. Today, new therapies, medicines and procedures offer hope to women whose lives have been restricted by pain, discomfort and embarrassment.

How We Can Help

At El Camino Health, our urologists lead a multidisciplinary team that works with each patient to understand how pelvic issues affect her medically, emotionally and socially. The team includes obstetrician/gynecologists, gynecologic oncologists, urologists, general surgeons, primary care doctors, physical therapists, nutritionists and a program coordinator.

Our compassionate physical therapists have received special training in pelvic floor anatomy and conditions. They work with your doctors to determine the most effective personalized treatment plans.

If surgery is called for, our highly skilled urology team adds advanced laparoscopic and robotic-assisted techniques for complex pelvic reconstruction. Our gynecologists and gynecologic oncologists have also found that, for complicated hysterectomies, robotic-assisted surgery may be a less invasive and more effective technique. El Camino Health performs the greatest number of minimally invasive gynecologic and urologic surgeries in Northern California. You can be confident in our experience and expertise.

Female Pelvic Conditions We Treat

The pelvic conditions we treat include:

• Urinary incontinence
• Pelvic organ prolapse (bladder, rectal, uterine or intestinal tissue bulging into the vagina)
• Uterine fibroids (benign tumors of muscular and fibrous tissues)
• Abnormal uterine bleeding (menorrhagia)
• Endometriosis (the growth of uterine tissue outside the uterus)
• Sexual dysfunction
• Pelvic pain
• Gynecologic cancers
• Abnormal Pap tests

Postpartum Pelvic Wellness

The time after childbirth can sometimes be accompanied by pelvic pain and difficulty emptying your bladder. Pregnancy and childbirth may stress the connective tissue of the bladder or urethra (the tube that allows urine to pass out of the body). You might leak urine when you cough, strain or laugh. Or you may experience bowel dysfunction, back pain or pelvic pain.

The specially trained and certified Physical Therapy Department at El Camino Health offers special postpartum therapy options, so you can get relief. One-on-one sessions with our therapists can tone your pelvic floor muscles and ease postpartum conditions greatly, including incontinence. A doctor's referral is required. At El Camino Health we accept insurance for our physical therapy services — a significant benefit to our patients, since many small practices do not.

For more information, call 650-940-7285.

Pelvic Fitness and Education

Clinical studies have proven that pelvic fitness and education can transform women’s lives. The first step in that transformation consists of a thorough external and internal evaluation with your physical therapist in a private, comfortable room.

Depending on your condition and its severity, our therapist will create a custom treatment plan especially for you. It may include:

• Core and pelvic muscle exercises
• Postural re-education
• Physiological quieting and relaxation techniques
• Bladder retraining
• Electrical muscle stimulation
• A plan to modify diet and bathroom habits
• Instruction for home exercises

This customized treatment plan may lead to:

• Stronger pelvic core and flatter abs
• Improved bladder control
• Better sexual health

Bring your questions to us. Every month El Camino Health teaches a free introductory class, Incontinence and the Pelvic Floor, led by a certified continence nurse. We help you understand the factors that contribute to stress and urge incontinence, as well as treatment options.

For more information, call 650-940-7285.

The Pelvic Health Program is supported by donations to El Camino Health Foundation.