Pelvic Floor and Bladder

Candace Cooley has treated urinary incontinence and concerns about pelvic health, and her operating experience takes in pelvic reconstruction, cystoscopy and procedures to suspend the bladder; the entries in this index cover the anatomy those operations support. The problems are common. A study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that nearly 24 percent of women in the United States have one or more pelvic floor disorders, a share that rises to more than 40 percent between ages 60 and 79 and about half at 80 and older. It describes the pelvic muscles and ligaments as a sling across the opening of the pelvis that holds the bladder, uterus, bowel and rectum in place.¹

Incontinence comes in two main forms. The Office on Women’s Health separates stress incontinence, leakage when coughing, sneezing, laughing or exercising puts pressure on weak pelvic floor muscles, from urge incontinence, leakage after a sudden strong need to urinate, and notes that incontinence affects twice as many women as men.² Looking inside is part of the work. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases explains that cystoscopy uses a long, thin optical instrument with a lens and light to view the linings of the urethra and bladder.³

The six entries are The Pelvic Floor, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy, Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Stress Urinary Incontinence, The Midurethral Sling and Overactive Bladder.