Urogynecology
Find expert care for women’s pelvic floor disorders at Spectrum Health. You’ll appreciate our individualized, whole-person approach to care that focuses on improving your quality of life.
Pelvic health specialists
Choose a specialist for your care. Urogynecologists are physicians with advanced training in diagnosing and treating pelvic floor disorders. The pelvic floor is the group of muscles, ligaments and connective tissues that support your bowel, bladder, uterus, vagina and rectum.
Conditions we treat
Look to a Spectrum Health urogynecologist for care of:
- Bladder control problems, including urinary incontinence and overactive bladder
- Bowel control problems
- Fistulas
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Urethral diverticulum
- Vaginal and pelvic mesh complications
Diagnostic tests
Your care begins with a comprehensive evaluation, which may include:
- Cystoscopy – Uses a thin lighted tube to examine your bladder and urethra
- Urodynamics studies – Show how your body holds and releases urine
Treatment options
In most cases, your doctor will try conservative, nonsurgical treatments first. Depending on your condition, your care plan may include:
- Botox® injections – Relax your bladder muscles to treat overactive bladder
- Medications – Treat some types of incontinence
- Pelvic floor physical therapy – Uses manual therapy, exercises and other techniques to improve pelvic floor control, strength and function
- Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) – Sends mild electrical pulses to your tibial nerve to treat overactive bladder
- Pessary – Supports your pelvic organs
- Urethral bulking – Injects a special material into the walls of your urethra to treat some types of incontinence
If nonsurgical treatments don’t relieve your symptoms, your doctor may recommend surgery to restore comfort and function. Trust a team experienced in:
- Sacral nerve stimulation (Interstim®) – Implants a device that sends mild electrical signals to the nerve that affects your bladder, bowel and pelvic floor to treat urinary or fecal incontinence
- Pelvic reconstructive surgery – Restores or repairs a damaged pelvic floor · Hysterectomy – Removes the uterus, and sometimes also the fallopian tubes and ovaries
- Sling surgery – Places strips of mesh or your own tissue under your urethra or part of your bladder to treat certain types of incontinence
Whenever possible, your Spectrum Health urogynecologist uses less-invasive techniques to treat you. Your doctor may recommend one of the following approaches:
- Laparoscopic surgery – Your doctor uses very small incisions, specialized instruments and a tiny camera
- Robot-assisted surgery – Your doctor controls robotic arms that can bend and rotate with more dexterity than the human hand to perform laparoscopic surgery
- Vaginal surgery – Your doctor accesses your cervix or uterus through your vagina
When your surgeon uses minimally invasive techniques, you’ll benefit from less pain, smaller scars and a quicker recovery.
Contact us
Talk to a care navigator or schedule an appointment at the Women’s Health & Wellness Center
Meet our team
25 Michigan St NE, Suite 6200, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
25 Michigan St NE, Suite 6200, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
25 Michigan St NE, Suite 6200, Grand Rapids, MI 49503Our team can help with:
- Fistula (abnormal hole between the vagina, rectum, or bladder)
- Incontinence (accidental loss of urine or stool)
- Minimally invasive vaginal & robotic surgery
- Overactive bladder
- Pelvic floor disorders
- Pelvic floor physical therapy
- Pessary management
- Prolapse (vaginal bulge or pressure often called cystocele, rectocele, or uterine prolapse)
- Urethral diverticulum
- Vaginal and pelvic mesh complications
“Accidental bladder or bowel leakage can be both uncomfortable and embarrassing for many women. You may feel like you need to give up exercising, going to social functions or even leaving the house. We are here to provide you with a comfortable place to talk about the treatments available to regain your ability to achieve your best life.”
~ Beth Leary, MD, Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, Spectrum Health Medical Group
Find a Physician or Advanced Practice Provider
Our experienced Urogynecology doctors and specialists are ready to serve you, right in your community.