What is an Urogynecologist?

About Urogynecologists

A Urogynecologist is a medical specialist who diagnoses and treats female pelvic floor disorders such as Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Urinary Incontinence, Urinary Urgency and frequency; Chronic Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), Nocturia (troublesome night-time urinating), Fecal Incontinence, Constipation, Fistulas, Pelvic Mesh Complications, Painful Bladder Syndrome and Pelvic Pain related to the pelvic floor muscles.

The more formal name for Urogynecology is Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS), and as that name implies, Urogynecologists offer a full range of surgical and non-surgical treatment options for any (non-cancerous) disorders of the pelvic organs. The female pelvic organs include the uterus tubes and ovaries; the vagina and external genitalia, the bladder, and the rectum and anus.

Urogynecologists become Certified after completing a Board-approved FPMRS fellowship program, which is an extra 2-3 years of training they receive after first completing either an OB-GYN or Urology residency program.

Surgeries typically performed by Urogynecologists include mid-urethral sling placement, Botox injections in the bladder, sacroneuromodulation, peripheral sacral nerve stimulation, pelvic reconstructive surgery, cystocele repair, rectocele repair, laparoscopic / robotic sacrocolpopexy, vaginal mesh placement, removal of pelvic mesh, vaginal hysterectomy, laparoscopic / robotic hysterectomy, vesicovaginal fistula repair, rectovaginal fistula repair, anal sphincter repair, removal of urethral diverticulum.

Urogynecologists work alongside a number of other medical specialists in providing combined and holistic treatments including Family Doctors / General Practitioners, Internists, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapists, Pelvic Rehabilitation Physicians, Colorectal Surgeons, and Gastroenterologists.

Useful Resources

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Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

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