Main description:

In "A Woman's Guide to Pelvic Health" a urologist and a physical therapist offer expert and reassuring advice to women. For example, one of every four women suffers from urinary incontinence, the involuntary leakage of urine. Elizabeth E. Houser and Stephanie Riley Hahn want these women to know that they do not have to cope in silence with this embarrassing problem, limit their lifestyle, or spend thousands of dollars on adult diapers. Symptoms involving the pelvic floor, including urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and decreased sexual sensation, can occur at any age. A wide range of treatments, such as targeted exercises, nutrition, and acupuncture, as well as medications and surgical approaches, can bring relief. Case studies and illustrations help readers explore the cause of their own symptoms and how treatments work. "A Woman's Guide to Pelvic Health" encourages women to address their pelvic floor issues and reclaim their lives.

Contents:

Foreword, by Jill Grimes, M.D.
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1. Anatomy and Pelvic Floor Health
Is This You?
What's Happening with Your Pelvic Floor?
What Is Your Pelvic Floor IQ?
Meet Your Pelvic Floor
Chapter 2. Stress Urinary Incontinence
My Story: Recovery from Stress Urinary Incontinence
Stress Urinary Incontinence: No Laughing Matter
What You Need to Know about Stress Urinary Incontinence
Chapter 3. Overactive Bladder and Urge Urinary Incontinence
My Story: Recovery from Overactive Bladder and Urge Urinary Incontinence
Overactive Bladder and Urge Urinary Incontinence: The Surprising Flood
What You Need to Know about Overactive Bladder and Urge Urinary Incontinence
Chapter 4. Mixed Urinary Incontinence
My Story: Recovery from Mixed Urinary Incontinence
Mixed Urinary Incontinence: The Best and Worst of Both Worlds
What You Need to Know about Mixed Urinary Incontinence
Chapter 5. Pelvic Organ Prolapse
My Story: Recovery from Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Pelvic Organ Prolapse: The Name Says It All
What You Need to Know about Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Chapter 6. Decreased Sexual Sensation
My Story: Recovery from Decreased Sexual Sensation
Decreased Sexual Sensation: You Can Do Something about It
What You Need to Know about Decreased Sexual Sensation
Chapter 7. At-Home Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise Program
Why Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise Programs Sometimes Fail
A Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise Program That Works
Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises Really Are Effective
Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise Program Requirements
How to Do a Correct Pelvic Floor Muscle Contraction
Testing Phase: Test the Strength of Your Pelvic Floor Muscles
The Five F's of a Fit Pelvic Floor
Frequently Asked Questions about the Five F's Program
F#1. Focused and Fast Pelvic Floor Muscle Contractions
F#2. Functional Pelvic Floor Muscle Contractions
F#3. Freedom Pelvic Floor Muscle Contractions
F#4. Fun Pelvic Floor Muscle Contractions (in theBedroom)
F#5. Future Pelvic Floor Muscle Contractions
Chapter 8. Additional Conservative Treatments
Pelvic Floor Retraining Guided by a Specialist (plusBiofeedback)
Medication
Behavior and Diet Modifications Plus Weight Management
Acupuncture
Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation
Vaginal Pessaries
Urethral Dilation
Chapter 9. Surgical Solutions
General Principles and Precautions with Transvaginal Surgery
General Considerations for Incontinence Surgeries
Transobturator Tape
Tension-Free Vaginal Tape
Pubovaginal Sling Procedures
Burch Procedure
Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz Procedure
General Considerations for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgeries
Cystocele Repair
Rectocele Repair
Enterocele Repair
Vaginal Vault Repair, or Sacral Colpopexy
Uterine Suspension Procedures
Hysterectomy
Sacral Neuromodulation
Additional Resources
References
Index