Pelvic floor disordersSpecialized care for sensitive issues

UW Health offers expert, multidisciplinary care for pelvic floor disorders, from bladder and bowel incontinence to pelvic organ prolapse.

Your pelvic floor is easy to ignore—until it stops working correctly.

The pelvic floor is a bowl-shaped structure that supports your lower internal organs. When there is damage or weakening of the pelvic floor muscles, ligaments or connective tissues, many conditions involving the bladder, bowel, uterus, vagina and rectum can occur. These conditions can cause discomfort and embarrassing symptoms that disrupt your daily life. Many factors may increase your risk of developing a pelvic floor disorder at some point during your lifetime, such as childbirth, aging, repetitive heavy lifting, chronic diseases and genetics.

These issues are more common than you might think: More than 50% of individuals with female pelvic organs will experience a pelvic floor disorder during their lifetime, becoming more common after 55 years of age. But this doesn’t have to be a “normal” part of aging. With the right treatment and care, our multidisciplinary team of experts can help you manage your symptoms and take back your life.

Our multidisciplinary team are experts in obstetrics, gynecology, reconstructive surgery, urology and pelvic floor physical therapy and specialize in diagnosing and treating pelvic floor disorders for individuals of all ages. With sensitivity and compassion, our experts will develop a personalized treatment plan to help you manage your condition so you can resume your daily activities without stress or discomfort.

Patients with weakened pelvic floors may experience stress incontinence, which is when you leak urine when you cough, laugh, lift something heavy or sneeze. Pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and conditions that affect the nerves can all make urine leakage more likely.

Accidental bowel leakage, also known as fecal incontinence, is when you have trouble controlling gas and stool. It can occur after damage to the pelvic floor or the nerves that connect the brain and pelvic organs. Patients with this condition might also have bladder problems.

When the pelvic floor is no longer able to properly support the pelvic organs, it’s called pelvic organ prolapse. Prolapse can take many different forms, depending on which organ drops. This condition can affect one or more of the following:

  • Bladder

  • Urethra

  • Uterus

  • Vagina

  • Small bowel

  • Rectum

While not life threatening, this condition can cause bulging from the vagina, pelvic discomfort, pain during sex, and urinary or bowel problems.

Often in conjunction with other specialists, other services we provide include:

  • Intersex and transgender patient care

  • Vulvar reconstruction

Botox injections can relax the muscles, giving you more time to reach the bathroom.

Nerve stimulation helps the brain communicate with the bladder or bowel to reduce accidents or leakage.

Medications can improve your bowel/bladder function and reduce symptoms and discomfort.

A pessary is a small, non-invasive, removable plastic or rubber ring that controls leakage. Learn more about how a pessary works.

Pelvic floor physical therapy and biofeedback help strengthen weak muscles and damaged nerves that cause incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Learn more about what to expect with pelvic floor therapy.

Surgery can lift the urethra back into normal position. Depending on your needs, options include vaginal, laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery.

Non-surgical treatment options include pessaries (see above), Kegel exercises and biofeedback, all of which can strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.

Surgical options may be done through the vagina or the abdomen to restore a drooping organ back to its original position. Surgery may involve:

  • Closure of the vagina

  • Repair of the bladder or urethra

  • Repair of the rectum or small bowel

  • Repair of the vaginal wall

  • Removal of the uterus

When you need expert care for pelvic floor disorders, UW Health is here for you. Choose from several locations throughout Madison, including the new Eastpark Medical Center, or our location in Rockford, IL.

Eastpark Medical Center, located on Madison’s east side, is the main location for the Integrated Specialty Care for Women program, which houses multiple specialties under one roof, making it more convenient for you and easier for your health care team to collaborate when discussing your preferred treatment course. Learn more about Eastpark Medical Center.

  • Eastpark Medical Center Integrated Specialty Care for Women
    • 4621 Eastpark Blvd / Madison, WI
    • (608) 914-0800
  • Eastpark Medical Center Urology Clinic
    • 4621 Eastpark Blvd / Madison, WI
    • (608) 914-0200
  • 1 S Park St Medical Center Urology Clinic
    • 1 S Park St / Madison, WI
    • (608) 287-2900
  • University Hospital Urology Clinic
    • 600 Highland Ave / Madison, WI
    • (608) 263-4757
  • East Madison Hospital Pelvic Floor Disorders Physical Therapy Clinic
    • 4602 Eastpark Blvd / Madison, WI
    • (608) 440-6440
  • Science Dr Medical Center Pelvic Floor Disorders Physical Therapy Clinic
    • 621 Science Dr / Madison, WI
    • (608) 265-3341
  • The exterior of UW Health N Alpine Rd Clinic
    The exterior of UW Health N Alpine Rd Clinic
    N Alpine Rd Clinic Urogynecology Clinic
    • 1253 N Alpine Rd / Rockford, IL
    • (779) 696-9201
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Below are additional trusted resources that may be helpful to better understand your symptoms.

Health Facts for You

Health Facts for You has detailed information about conditions and treatments at UW Health. Search support materials

Healthwise® Knowledgebase

The Healthwise® Knowledgebase features a wide range of topics about health conditions and treatments. View patient resources

Voices for PFD

This website managed by the American Urogynecological Society offers a wealth of additional resources:

Fact sheets on conditions and treatments (in English and Spanish)

Voices for PFD YouTube channel

Information for new moms

Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction

The Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU) offers resources on bladder problems, prolapse, pelvic floor muscle training and more. View patient resources

International Urogynecological Association

The International Urogynecological Association offers detailed information on many pelvic floor conditions and treatments. Information is available in several languages. View health topics