Pelvic Health

If you are experiencing pelvic pain, prolapse or incontinence, you are not alone – and you don’t have to live with the discomfort. At Holy Cross hospitals in Silver Spring and Germantown, our pelvic health experts understand how deeply pelvic floor disorders can impact your daily life.

We take time to understand your symptoms, accurately diagnose the issue and create a personalized care plan based on the latest medical evidence – so you can regain comfort, confidence and quality of life. 

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Overview of Our Services
Solutions Tailored to You

At Holy Cross Health, we explore solutions for your pelvic health concerns to find lasting relief and provide you with the tools for long-term recovery. Our program is designed with your personalized needs in mind – beginning with advanced diagnostics to non-surgical and minimally invasive surgical treatments.

Through diagnostic testing and evaluation, our specialists work with you to create an individualized care plan to restore your pelvic function. Diagnostics may include:

• CT scan of the pelvis
• Cystoscopy – a visual exam of the bladder using a small scope
• MRI and Ultrasound
• Anal Manometry – a test using a small balloon to measure rectal pressure
• Anoscopy – a short exam to evaluate the anal canal
• Defecography (Defecogram) – an X-ray test to assess rectal function during a bowel movement
• Physiological studies – to evaluate nerve function in the pelvic organs 

Your personalized treatment plan may include a combination of advanced treatment options ranging from minimally invasive procedures to non-surgical therapies such as medication, physical therapy, neuromodulation, Botox bladder injections, dietary changes and more – tailored to help you feel like yourself again. 
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Common Conditions

When Pelvic Health Disrupts Life

Pelvic floor disorders – such as pelvic pain, prolapse and incontinence – can impact even the most routine parts of your day, from walking and sitting to laughing or lifting your child. At Holy Cross Health, we are here to help you reclaim comfort, confidence and control.

Risk factors for pelvic floor dysfunction include pregnancy and childbirth, age, conditions like obesity or nerve and muscle diseases, radiation or pelvic surgery, enlarged prostate in men, and lifestyle choices such as smoking, heavy lifting and excessive caffeine.

Through expert diagnosis and personalized treatment plans, we work with you to restore comfort, function and a sense of normalcy – so your everyday routine can feel like yours again. Our multi-specialty team treats the following conditions with skill, expertise and compassion:

• Urinary Incontinence
• Fecal Incontinence
• Pelvic Organ Prolapse
• Chronic Pelvic Pain
• Postpartum Recovery Issues
• Chronic UTIs
• Interstitial Cystitis (Painful Bladder Syndrome)
• Abnormal or difficulty emptying the bladder

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Treatment Options
Care Designed for You

Your diagnosis will dictate your course of treatment, which may include non-surgical or surgical treatment, medications or other measures to help you regain function and confidence.

• Pelvic Floor Therapy
  Working with a physical therapist, your treatment involves pelvic floor rehabilitation, muscle strengthening and relaxation. For incontinence, we focus on strengthening the pelvic floor muscles through biofeedback, Kegel exercises and tips for managing discomfort.
• Medication or Outpatient Procedures
  Your physician may prescribe medication to help manage symptoms and address disorders.
• Minimally Invasive Surgery 
  Urinary or fecal incontinence, as well as pelvic organ prolapse, may benefit from these minimally invasive procedures at Holy Cross Health:
  • Urinary Incontinence
    • Mid-Urethral Sling for Stress Incontinence (outpatient)
    • Burch Colposuspension
    • Fascia Pubovaginal sling
    • Botox Injection of the bladder
    • Injectables/Bulking Agents
    • Sacral Nerve Stimulation for Overactive Bladder (OAB)
  • Fecal Incontinence
    • Sacral Nerve Stimulation
    • Overlapping Sphincteroplasty
  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse
    • Robotic Sacrocolpopexy
    • Vaginal Repair of Prolapse – with or without transvaginal mesh placement
    • Robotic Rectal Suspension (Rectopexy)
    • Robotic Ventral Mesh Rectopexy