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Urogynecology
Compassionate, expert health care
Urogynecology at Mount Auburn Hospital
It’s common to experience conditions that affect your bladder and pelvic floor — the muscles and connective tissues that support the pelvic organs. At Mount Auburn Hospital, we can help you find relief from those conditions. In nearly all cases, symptoms improve with treatment.
Our team offers you the latest in proven nonsurgical and surgical procedures, including minimally invasive and robotic-assisted options. Our surgeons have completed in-depth training in these types of surgeries.
Mount Auburn Hospital provides high-quality, compassionate care in a wide range of specialties, all in a convenient setting close to home. The hospital’s surgical team includes highly regarded community-based surgeons as well as specialty surgeons from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Urogynencologic Diagnostic Tests
Your journey begins with diagnostic testing so that your doctor can identify your condition. We'll recommend specific tests to help diagnose your condition and determine the best treatment. Tests we offer include:
- Anorectal manometry: Uses a balloon catheter to evaluate the muscles and reflexes involved in regulating bowel movements
- Cystoscopy: Inspects the bladder and urethra using thin tube with a tiny camera on the end
- Hysteroscopy: Examines the inside of the uterus using thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end
- Imaging tests, such as X-rays and ultrasounds: Allows doctors to see inside your body
- Urodynamic study: Shows how well the bladder holds and releases urine
- Voiding diary: Provides us with valuable information about how your bladder is functioning on a typical day
Our experienced staff will ease your anxiety and help you feel as comfortable as possible before and during your procedure.
Personalized Treatment Plan
Once you have a diagnosis, partner with your urogynecologist to create an individualized treatment plan. Rely on your doctor to explain all your options, listen to your preferences and tailor treatment to your needs.
Clinical Research Studies
If you qualify for a clinical research trial, you may benefit from new treatments not yet widely available. Ask about current studies.
For more information, talk with your doctor or call 617-354-5452 to speak with our research coordinator, Kathy Rogers.
Treatments We Offer
Count on your doctor at Mount Auburn Hospital to help you understand all your treatment options — including nonsurgical options. We can treat many conditions, even urinary incontinence and prolapse, with highly effective conservative measures.
Nonsurgical Urogynecologic Treatments
Depending your specific condition, your treatment plan may include:
- Bladder instillations: Places medications directly into the bladder to treat bladder pain.
- Bladder retraining: Uses behavior change to help you increase the time between your trips to the restroom.
- BOTOX injections: Relaxes muscles to relieve pelvic pain or pain with intercourse, or reduce urinary urge incontinence.
- Dietary management: Recommends avoiding or eating more of certain types of foods to relieve symptoms.
- Pelvic floor physical therapy: Uses gentle exercises — such as Kegel exercises or hands-on techniques — to help the muscles and connective tissues that support your pelvic organs work better.
- Pessary: Uses a flexible, removable device that supports prolapsed pelvic organs.
- Tibial nerve stimulation therapy: Improves bladder control by sending gentle electrical impulses from a nerve near your ankle to your pelvis; a full treatment includes weekly 30-minute treatment sessions for 12 weeks.
- Trigger point injections: Relieves pain using an injection of a local anesthetic.
- Urethral bulking: Uses an injection to narrow the urethra and reduce leakage due to stress incontinence.
Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures
Whenever possible, your urogynecologist will use a minimally invasive (laparoscopic) technique. In some cases, your surgeon may use the aid of a surgical robot. Our approach to surgery means you benefit from:
- Faster recovery
- Less post-operative pain
- Reduced risk of complications
- Smaller scars
You can trust our experience; we perform more laparoscopic procedures than any other urogynecological group in New England.
Fistula Repair
During fistula repair surgery, your doctor will separate tissues that shouldn’t be connected and close any abnormal openings. Your urogynecologist will recommend the best procedure for your specific condition.
Hysterectomy
Your doctor may recommend a hysterectomy — surgery to remove the uterus — to treat conditions such as pelvic prolapse, fibroids or heavy bleeding. At Mount Auburn, our surgeons perform the majority of hysterectomies using minimally invasive techniques. We offer two hysterectomy options:
- Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH). During this minimally invasive procedure, your surgeon removes the uterus through several small abdominal incisions (cuts). Depending on your situation, your surgeon may also remove your ovaries and/or fallopian tubes. The cervix is left in place.
- Laparoscopic total hysterectomy. During this procedure, your surgeon removes the uterus and cervix through several small abdominal incisions. Depending on your situation, your surgeon may also recommend removal of your ovaries and/or fallopian tubes.
Prolapse Repair
If pelvic organ prolapse (organs slipping out of place) causes symptoms that disrupt your life, your doctor may recommend surgery to treat your condition. Your physician will consider your age, childbearing plans, health conditions and other factors to recommend the best treatment for you.
Laparoscopic Sacrocolpopexy
Your doctor may recommend this procedure to treat vaginal prolapse. During this minimally invasive procedure, your surgeon may recommend removal of the uterus through very small incisions. Then, your surgeon uses a safe synthetic mesh to suspend the vaginal walls.
Laparoscopic Cerclage Sacrohysteropexy
Your doctor may recommend this uterine-sparing procedure to treat uterine prolapse. During this minimally-invasive procedure that was developed at Mount Auburn Hospital, your surgeon suspends the uterus with a safe synthetic mesh without the need for a hysterectomy.
Mid-Urethral Sling Placement
Your doctor may recommend mid-urethral sling placement to treat stress incontinence (leaking urine with everyday activities such as coughing or exercising) or prolapse. The sling is made of a safe synthetic mesh. The sling acts like ligaments, supporting a weakened urethra.
Sacral Neuromodulation (InterStim System) for Incontinence
The InterStim System helps you regain control of your bladder or bowels through an implanted device that stimulates the sacral nerves. These nerves help control your pelvic floor and lower urinary tract. Your surgeon implants a stimulator the size of a half-dollar under the skin of your upper buttock. You’ll use a hand-held programmer to control the stimulator.
Surgery for Bowel Incontinence
Other surgical treatment options for bowel incontinence include:
- Anal sphincter repair. If you experience a loss of bowel control due to damaged or torn muscles, your doctor may recommend this treatment.
- Trans-obturator post-anal sling (TOPAS) placement. During this procedure, which was developed at Mount Auburn Hospital, your surgeon places a safe synthetic mesh sling under the rectum to support weak pelvic floor muscles.
Get Started
Take the first step on your journey toward better health.
Conditions We Treat
Our experienced gynecologic care team is here to meet all of your health needs. We treat the full range of gynecology issues, including:
- Bowel incontinence
- Defecatory dysfunction
- Fistula
- Overactive bladder
- Painful bladder (interstitial cystitis)
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Pelvic surgery complications
- Urethral diverticulum
- Urinary incontinence
- Urinary tract infections (recurrent)
- Voiding dysfunction
Services & Specialties
When needed, your gynecologist will work with other subspecialty providers at Mount Auburn Hospital to ensure you have the care you need to feel your very best.
