Information on urinary and pelvic health in women

by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP

The hourglass shape of a woman’s body allows the pelvis to provide primary support for everything above it. The pelvis is the foundation upon which much of the body’s structure rests, and just as with any other kind of structure, it’s important that this foundation be solid — after all, the rest of the body depends on it.

One critical area of the pelvic “foundation” in women is a set of interwoven muscles called the pelvic floor. These muscles cradle our lower internal organs, much like a hammock holds a person, while encompassing three important passageways: the urethra, vagina, and rectum. When the floor of the female pelvis is compromised, it’s easy to see how many things can go wrong — from painful intercourse to incontinence and urinary tract infections. I know it’s easy to take our pelvic and urinary health for granted, but when pelvic health becomes an issu¬e, it can have a tremendous impact on our lives and our overall health.

I’ve seen so many women at the clinic — young and old, with children and without — devastated and embarrassed about urinary incontinence. It affects more women than you may realize. Chronic infections, surgery, childbirth, accidents and many other things can cause changes in the urethra and the bladder that result in urinary and even bowel incontinence. But rest assured, there are solutions. Pelvic floor exercises, pelvic physical therapy (PPT), acupuncture, and good nutrition are just some options we’ve found helpful for bladder and bowel control in women.

Another major area of concern for our patients is urinary tract infections. Whether you can’t seem to get rid of them or you want to focus on preventing UTI’s, we’ve had years of experience. And the answer does not always include antibiotics. There are so many ways to boost your immune system and prevent recurrent infections from both yeast and bacteria without resorting to prescription medication. You may be wondering, is cranberry really the answer? What about vitamin C? Find the answers you’re looking for. And take good care of your foundation!

Our most popular resources on urinary and pelvic health:

To access an article, just choose from the list of excerpts below. To find more articles, use the search function below. Don’t see a topic that’s important to you? Let us know.

• Urinary incontinence — help for female bladder problems
  From urge and stress incontinence to overactive bladder (OAB), women of every age experience urinary incontinence. But you don’t have to suffer through this embarrassing and uncomfortable issue. Learn more about natural ways to help yourself through urinary incontinence.
• Pelvic floor health — strengthening your core
  The pelvic floor does much more than maintain urinary and rectal continence. It supports all movement, balance and stability, while serving as the main player in childbirth and sexual pleasure. Learn more about strengthening this important group of muscles so you can see benefits well beyond bladder control.
• Getting your bladder back on track — living with interstitial cystitis
  Interstitial cystitis is an inflammatory condition often mistaken for a urinary tract infection. Women to Women describes IC and offers help for IC symptoms.
• Stop suffering from urinary tract infections
  Many women have been given long-term doses of antibiotics for chronic urinary tract infections and want a way out. Others simply want to prevent UTI’s altogether. Here’s an article on what causes infections in the urinary tract and how you can work with your immune system and prevent them — naturally.
• About testing and urgent treatment for UTI’s
  Not all urinary tract infections are created equal. Some need more attention than others. Here are some answers to your questions about testing for UTI’s and what the current options are for urgent treatment.

 

Original Publication Date: 06/19/2008
Last Modified: 02/16/2010
Principal Author: Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP