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Seeking Medical Help
Tips for making the most out of your visit with your primary care doctor:
- Share when your last pelvic exam was (days, weeks, months or years).
- Communicate if you’ve had children, the number of births and how you delivered – vaginally or cesarean section.
- Describe if you are experiencing pain, pressure or a bulge in your pelvic area.
- Discuss if you are having trouble urinating or passing a bowel movement.
- Share if you are experiencing “leaking”, need to use the bathroom often or have pain during urination.
- Communicate when your pelvic symptoms started and how often you have the symptoms.
- Be your own advocate and say you want to find ways to treat or cure these symptoms.
Questions to ask:
- Do you think I have symptoms of a pelvic floor disorder? If so, what kind of pelvic floor disorder(s) do I have?
- What is causing my symptoms?
- Will my symptoms get better?
- What can I do to lessen or end these symptoms?
- Do you see a lot of other patients like me?
- Do you know of any doctors who specialize in treating my symptoms, such as urogynecologist or urologist? If so, can you refer me to someone you would recommend?
- Will you work with the specialist to make sure he or she knows about my medical history?
- Can I contact you again to ask your advice after seeing a specialist?
- What should I do next?
It’s something women don’t like to admit, let alone talk about, but bladder, bowel and pelvic health issues are extremely common. It’s estimated that one out of every three women will experience some form of pain or dysfunction in the area of the uterus, cervix, vagina, bladder or rectum. Pelvic health disorders affect women of all ages and while they become more common as women get older – they are not a normal or acceptable part of aging.
At the Avista Pelvic Health Center, we understand that these conditions can be embarrassing and interfere with your quality of life, but they don’t have to. Nearly 90 percent of pelvic health conditions can be diagnosed and treated through lifestyle changes, therapy or surgery.
Whether you need testing, treatment or surgery, you’ll find the highest level of expertise at the Avista Pelvic Health Center. Our team includes specialists in urogynecology, urology and pelvic health physical therapy. We also provide new and expecting moms with therapy to repair pelvic floor conditions created during pregnancy and childbirth.
The Avista Pelvic Health Center experts are here to offer you hope. You might find it challenging to discuss these private matters with a health care provider, but these conditions can be treated and your quality of life improved. Your doctor may refer you to one of our specialists or you may reach out to the Avista Pelvic Health Center directly.