Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women has a team of specialists providing treatment options for pelvic floor disorders such as urinary or fecal incontinence and prolapse of the bladder and/or the uterus.

Urinary incontinence (leakage of urine) is a very common condition affecting at least 10-20% of women under age 65 and up to 56% of women over the age of 65. While incontinence also affects men, it occurs much more commonly in women.

Prolapse simply means displacement from the normal position. When this word is used to describe the female organs, it usually means bulging, sagging or falling. It can occur quickly, but usually happens over the course of many years. On average, 11% of women will undergo surgery for this condition.

Prolapse and incontinence frequently occur together. Both conditions are believed to result from damage to the pelvic floor after delivering a baby. Other possible factors in the development of prolapse and incontinence are very heavy lifting on a daily basis, chronic coughing, severe constipation and obesity.

The Urinary Incontinence & Pelvic Floor treatment and services at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital and Lake Charles Memorial Hosptial for Women are handled simultaneously through a close working relationship between our urology and gynecology specialties. Working together, our  therapists, gynecologists and urologists utilize cutting edge technology to receive an accurate diagnosis.  Patients may benefit from medication, physiotherapy or surgery.

Pelvic Floor Muscle Therapy

When weakened or stretched, the pelvic muscles can cause or simply contribute to a problem of urinary and bowel incontinence, as well as pelvic and prostate pain. Non-surgical therapies are available including biofeedback, pelvic muscle rehabilitation, vaginal pessaries and neuromodulation. Through Pelvic Floor Muscular Reeducation, a non-surgical solution for urinary incontinence, physical therapists at Memorial Hospital can provide relief to women—and men—of all ages.  Pelvic Floor Muscular Reeducation has proven effective in helping many patients regain pelvic muscle control. The program also enhances and speeds recovery for those who’ve already undergone surgery. Therapists teach the conservative, self-help program of exercise and biofeedback. The exercises focus on strengthening muscles supporting the pelvic or prostate organs. For more information on this treatment program call Memorial’s Team Therapy Rehabilitation at (337) 494-3150.

Pelvic Floor and Bladder Surgery

Our surgeons are skilled in vaginal laparoscopic and abdominal surgery with an emphasis on a minimally invasive approach. Many surgeries, especially those for stress incontinence (a dropped bladder) in female patients, may require only a short hospital stay. In addition, more sophisticated surgeries such as bladder reconstruction and continent urinary diversion (where the patient is no longer required to wear external appliance after bladder removal) are also performed at the Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.