In A Womans 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 can occur at any age, including urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and decreased sexual sensation. 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 treat their pelvic floor issues and reclaim their lives.
Foreword, by Jill Grimes, M.D. Acknowledgments 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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
""The authors combine an upbeat, positive tone with detailed, understandable descriptions of pelvic floor disorders and treatment options. Highly recommended for any woman suffering from one of these disorders.""
