Pelvic Health Diagnosis & Treatment

When it comes to treating this intimate part of the body, you want experts with a history of great outcomes. The experienced gynecology professionals at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health treat gynecological and pelvic floor disorders to improve your quality of life. 

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is one of the largest referral centers in the area for pelvic floor issues. Doctors throughout the Pacific Northwest region and Alaska refer their patients to us because our gynecologists, urogynecologists, and urologists are renowned experts in pelvic organ prolapse repair. Meet our team of gynecologists specializing in pelvic floor disorders.

At Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, we treat all pelvic floor disorders. These problems can affect anyone and can have a significant impact on quality of life. Our team includes gynecologists, urologists, urogynecologists, colorectal surgeons, gastroenterologists, physical therapists, and pain specialists.

Here are broad categories of conditions we treat:

Pelvic conditions are treatable with modern therapies that include surgical and nonsurgical options. A urodynamic study shows how well the bladder and surrounding organs work and can help physicians diagnose leaks and blockages. Other tests we use include:

• Bladder stress test
• Blood tests
• Cystoscopy: a look inside the bladder and urethra with a tiny camera
• Transvaginal ultrasound
• Urinalysis

Our gynecology physicians and physical therapists can provide successful treatment options without surgery for incontinence and other pelvic floor conditions:

• Self-care
• Medications
• Pelvic physical therapy
• Pessary

Several of our pelvic floor specialists have advanced training and are board-certified in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. They have the experience and expertise to address complications of prior surgeries, recurrent prolapse, or complex pelvic floor problems.

We’re committed to making sure you’re fully informed about all your choices and partner with you to improve your pelvic health. 

We hold national recognition as a Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology™ (COEMIG™) by the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists.

• Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (Urgent PC® neuromodulation)
• Sacral neuromodulation (InterStim®)
• Botox® injections
• Bladder augmentation surgery
• Urinary diversion surgery

When nonsurgical treatments don’t help with pelvic organ prolapse, surgical options are available to restore vaginal support and improve pressure or bulging.

• Native tissue repair
• Biological grafting
• Robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy: abdominally placed lightweight polypropylene mesh placed during surgery

• Urethral bulking: Injecting small beads of zirconium in a water-soluble gel plumps up the urethra to help it become more watertight. 
• Sling surgery: The sling works as a hammock to support the urethra, and as a backstop when pressure placed on the urethra pushes it downward.

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is a regional referral center for other physicians and hospitals for patients who have recurrent symptoms or complications from previous surgeries—including mesh sling, prolapse and incontinence surgeries. We offer a thorough evaluation, including translabial 3D pelvic ultrasound to visualize the mesh in relation to your anatomy. X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs cannot see mesh, so this ultrasound helps us visualize transvaginal mesh or mesh slings that have already been placed.

To make an appointment with one of our pelvic floor specialists, find a location.