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Leaky Bladder: What Are My Treatment Options?

You’re so frustrated by a leaky bladder. You suffer from urinary incontinence at the most aggravating times. Every time you laugh, cough, or sneeze, you have a small leak. You have also found that you cannot control your bladder as well as you used to. You can’t wait to go to the bathroom. When a sudden urge comes on, you have to go right away or you are going to experience a leak. Sometimes those leaks are more pronounced than others. You must want to take back control again. Know what your treatment options are in order to find relief for your leaky bladder.

Understanding What Kind of Incontinence You Have

As you consider your treatment alternatives, you need to have an understanding of what kind of bladder leak you have. If you have stress incontinence, you are dealing with leaks when anything applies pressure against your abdomen. This would explain those leaks when you sneeze, cough, or laugh. You might find that you experience leaks during physical activity as well. If you have urge incontinence, you may feel like you have to go all the time. You may also have times when your bladder empties itself without your control. It is possible to experience both kinds of incontinence. If you are a woman and you have had children, you are at greater risk of stress incontinence due to the strain placed on your muscles. If you smoke or you are overweight, you are at greater risk of stress incontinence.

What Can You Do About Your Leaky Bladder?

You have several options that can help you to take control of your bladder once again. You can begin with Kegel exercises that target the muscles of your pelvic floor. Mainly, you tighten the muscles that you use when you are trying to hold back your urine. Kegels are recommended for pregnant women to help them prepare for delivery. You can perform Kegels at any time to strengthen your muscles for better control. Bladder control is another option. Try scheduling visits to the bathroom.

What Can You Do if Your Own Efforts at Bladder Control Don’t Work?

If you are not successful on your own in controlling your bladder, your doctor can offer you solutions. At Fort Worth Center for Pelvic Medicine, our board-certified urogynecologist, Dr. Michael England, will evaluate your situation to find out which treatment option would be best for you. We offer medical therapy or surgical procedures to treat leaky bladder. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation! We are conveniently located in Fort Worth, TX.

Infertility: What Are My Treatment Options?

You’ve always known that you wanted to be a mother, and now you are ready for the next chapter in your life. You and your partner want to welcome a baby into your family. You thought it would happen naturally. You tried for over a year to conceive. You did not become pregnant even though you kept track of your peak times for ovulation. Fortunately, there are treatment options that can help you to become pregnant if you are struggling with infertility issues.

What Could be Causing Your Infertility?

There are various reasons that you may not be able to conceive. You could be dealing with problems with your fallopian tubes. You could be struggling with a problem that revolves around your cervix. Issues with your uterus may be a concern. If you have endometriosis, this can cause scar tissue to build up in your reproductive organs, making conception difficult. The only way to get to the root cause of your infertility is to be fully evaluated by medical professionals. Once you know the cause, you can find the right treatment alternative.

How Can You Treat Your Infertility?

If hormones are contributing to your infertility problems, we may be able to prescribe hormone replacement therapy or fertility drugs to restore balance. If there is an issue with your fallopian tubes, uterus, or cervix, surgery may be the best solution. When these measures are not effective, you may be a candidate for intrauterine insemination in which semen is inserted in your uterus. You may be able to try in vitro fertilization, in which embryos are inserted into your uterus. In some cases, you may need to use sperm or eggs that have been donated. You may go through a series of treatments before you finally have the ability to become pregnant.

Discuss Your Treatment Options with Our Team Today

The most important thing you can do is seek help when you are having problems becoming pregnant. We can help you explore testing and treatment options. To learn more or to schedule a consultation, contact us at the Fort Worth Center for Pelvic Medicine. We proudly serve the Fort Worth, Texas area.

Do You Have an Overactive Bladder? Here is What You Can Do

The average person should urinate about six times every day. Taking certain medications may cause this number to be slightly higher, but your bladder should never disrupt your life. Running to the bathroom every few hours to avoid an accident is not normal. If you are getting intense urges to urinate at least eight times a day, then you may be suffering from an overactive bladder.

An overactive bladder is a medical condition that causes an instant urge to urinate. This urge is often extremely difficult to stop, which can lead to an accident. An overactive bladder is a problematic condition even if you are always able to get to the bathroom in time. It can be very hard to get much work done if you are constantly going to the bathroom. Getting a good night’s sleep is also difficult because you will likely have to get up to urinate at least two or three times. Since this condition is so disruptive, it may be time to seek proper treatment for your overactive bladder.

The muscles in a normal bladder will contract when it is full of urine. If you have an overactive bladder, then these muscle will involuntary contract at random points throughout the day. This creates an intense urge to urinate even if the bladder is not full. The exact cause of this problem is not currently known.

Treatment for the overactive bladder may start with making a few lifestyle changes. But there are also different treatment options if the lifestyle changes are not effective. If your overactive bladder is causing severe symptoms that do not go away with one of the conservative treatments, then a more involved procedure may be your best option. It all depends on the unique case.

Living with an overactive bladder can be extremely difficult, but it is only a matter of time before you have a normal life again. Talk to our team at Fort Worth Center for Pelvic Medicine to learn more about your treatment options, including MonaLisa Touch® treatment. Contact us today for a consultation in Fort Worth, TX.

Urinary Incontinence: How to Treat It

It is often assumed that urinary incontinence is a sign of aging. While it is tempting to believe this to be the case, it turns out that in most cases, it is simply a sign of weak pelvic floor muscles. What this means is that urinary incontinence can strike at virtually any age. If your pelvic floor muscles go weak, then you will start to see signs of urinary incontinence beginning. These signs are usually noticed as stress incontinence that manifests as minor leaking due to sneezing or vigorous activity. Fortunately, the majority of cases, even in elderly adults, can be easily reversed.

By far, the most effective approach to reversing urinary incontinence is to strengthen your weakened pelvic floor muscles. This can sometimes be done through a series of exercises that work by identifying the muscle that is used when you stop urinating. But this method is ineffective for a lot of people.

If you have stress incontinence, due to sneezing, laughing or coughing, then you may benefit from reducing your overall liquid intake. While it is good to drink a sufficient amount of liquids each day, this can be a problem for people with stress incontinence.

Urge incontinence occurs when you get a chronic urge to urinate. It can be an annoying problem that is disrupting your daily routine. By retraining your bladder to wait longer and longer between bathroom trips, you will be counteracting the sensation of urge incontinence and retraining your body to not be so spastic in its urging you to release urine.

While most cases of urinary incontinence can be easily resolved, there are some situations where injury or a defective urinary system is responsible for the condition. In these cases, treatment will be more involved.

The good news is we have effective treatments available at Fort Worth Center for Pelvic Medicine. Contact us today to book a consultation at our office in Fort Worth, TX.

Telltale Symptoms of Menopause

A natural part of aging for any woman is the gradual transition into older adulthood, which comes with a variety of changes in hormone levels. In particular, estrogen and progesterone levels change, greatly affecting many of the sexual hormones. Not only will sexual changes happen for these women, but also they will notice a wide variety of symptoms across most of their body systems, some of which may not be very pleasant. We’re talking about perimenopause and menopause.

Menopause is officially defined as the time when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 months. As you can imagine, it can be difficult for women to know when they are entering this period. Therefore, it is vital to recognize the many symptoms of this stage so that you can get help if you need it and so that you can give yourself grace and understanding.

The first changes that you will most likely notice are those that affect your menstrual cycle. It may become irregular or may be heavier or lighter than usual. Your vagina may also feel dry and inelastic.

The next most severe change that most women in menopause note is hot flashes. These flashes normally last for less than 10 minutes at a time and may cause flushed skin and sweating.

Changes in sleep patterns can be very disruptive to women in this stage of life. You may find that it is nearly impossible to get to sleep at night or that you wake up for no reason.

Mood imbalances that are far different from any experienced in other stages of life may also afflict women in menopause. While some mood changes may seem to mimic those seen during PMS, they are usually stronger and more disruptive.

Of course, other changes may happen around the rest of your body. Your hair may begin to thin on your head and even on the rest of your body, meaning that you no longer have to shave your legs as frequently. Your skin will also begin to change faster than it ever has before, becoming thinner and less elastic and most likely becoming dryer as well.

Be sure to talk to our team at Fort Worth Center for Pelvic Medicine if you feel that your menopause symptoms are decreasing your quality of life. Contact us today for a consultation in Fort Worth, TX.

Are You a Candidate for a Pessary Insertion?

Pessary insertion involves the use of a soft device that is usually made of silicone. It can be used to treat conditions like genital prolapse or stress incontinence. Pessaries come in several different shapes and sizes, and the doctor will choose the one that best fits the patient’s needs.

What is Genital Prolapse?

Genital prolapse is a condition caused by a weakening of the pelvic floor or the muscles, ligaments, fascia and connective tissues that hold the pelvic organs in their proper place. Organs like the rectum, bladder or uterus then fall and press on the vagina.

In many cases, surgery can be performed to repair and strengthen the pelvic floor. But some patients either don’t want surgery, or they want to wait until they have finished having children. Our doctor can provide such women with a pessary to provide support to the vagina and keep the other organs in their proper place.

What Happens During a Pessary Insertion?

We will first perform a pelvic exam to determine the severity of the prolapse. We can then move forward with the pessary insertion. Size will be an important consideration. A pessary that is too small may simply fall out, while one that is too big will cause the patient discomfort. The patient shouldn’t feel the pessary at all.

Who is a Good Candidate?

Pessaries are for women who have either stress urinary incontinence or genital prolapse. In the latter case, we may offer a pessary if the patient can’t or doesn’t want to undergo surgery. The patient may, for instance, have a condition that makes having surgery dangerous. For such a patient, a simple pessary insertion is usually a safer option. The patient may also want to get a pessary if she is planning on getting pregnant in the near future.

The patient must understand that she will have to take care of the pessary. A patient unwilling to commit to such care is not a good candidate for a pessary.

To learn more about your candidacy for a pessary insertion, make an appointment at Fort Worth Center for Pelvic Medicine. Contact us today and book a consultation at our office in Fort Worth.

Experiencing Vaginal Dryness? Explore Your Options In Houston, TX

Vaginal dryness may occur naturally or may have appeared seemingly out of the blue. It often occurs as a part of menopause as your hormones fluctuate. It may also occur as a result of a medication you are on, such as birth control pills. Some women deal with it after pregnancy or at other times when estrogen levels fall dramatically. While it may be a normal part of the aging process, it is not something with which you have to live. Today, there are numerous treatments for vaginal dryness in Houston, TX.

Over-the-Counter Treatments

The first place to start with concerns to vaginal dryness is often with over-the-counter treatments. Sometimes, all you need is a lubricant that can make sexual intercourse more comfortable. Some natural supplements also seem to help certain women and can be obtained at many drugstores. These include vitamin E, vitamin D, and maca. Always use supplements under the supervision of your practitioner.

Laser Treatments

Laser treatments can be used inside your vagina to remodel the vaginal walls, improve atrophied tissues, improve muscular tone, and improve vaginal lubrication. Taken together, all of these changes can make intercourse more pleasurable and can help you feel more youthful once again. You can talk to someone on our team to learn more about the procedure.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

When over-the-counter treatments do not work to improve vaginal dryness and symptoms are bad enough, your practitioner may recommend hormonal treatments. These can be taken in several ways, such as by mouth or topically. Low-dose vaginal estrogen creams are quite popular and can be used without much risk of side effects. Some practitioners choose estrogen rings instead, which can be placed into the vagina and are just as effective as creams in improving vaginal dryness. Vaginal DHEA is another option that often provides deeper healing in the vaginal walls and may also be good for vaginal atrophy.

MonaLisa Touch®

The Mona Lisa Touch is another treatment for vaginal dryness. This treatment comes in a series of sessions and works to reverse the effects of aging and menopause. To learn more, please contact our office to speak with one of our team members.

Once you experience vaginal dryness, you quickly realize how uncomfortable it is. Thankfully, there are several options available in Houston, TX to help you feel better and more like yourself. If you are ready to experience a better sex life despite changes in your hormones, contact our office today to explore your options. Fort Worth Center for Pelvic Medicine proudly serves the Houston, TX area with an office in Fort Worth.

What are My Options for Endometriosis Treatment in Dallas?

Endometriosis is a painful gynecologic condition in Dallas in which the lining of the uterus grows outside this organ. The development of endometrial tissue occurs on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvic lining, where it continues to thicken and shed during the menstrual cycle. Because the tissue cannot exit the body, it creates fibrous and scar tissue as well as cysts.

Endometrial tissue overgrowth leads to symptoms that can include painful menstruation, pain during intercourse, pain when going to the bathroom, very heavy periods or bleeding between periods, fatigue, bloating, and nausea. Endometriosis is also associated with infertility. Though this condition is chronic, treatment options can alleviate symptoms and increase the chance of conception and pregnancy.

Endometriosis is more common among women in Dallas who began menstruating at an early age, have never been pregnant, are menstruating beyond the average age for menopause, have menstrual cycles that average less than 27 days, have higher estrogen levels, have a low body mass index, drink alcohol, have a family history of endometriosis, and/or have uterine abnormalities.

Treatment options in Dallas for endometriosis range from conservative measures to surgery depending on the severity of symptoms. The first line of defense is often over-the-counter medications to reduce painful cramps during menstruation. This can be combined with certain lifestyle measures that relieve symptoms.

If this is ineffective, other treatments will be recommended. It all depends on the unique case, as there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for endometriosis. Women who are trying to become pregnant may undergo a procedure to remove excess endometrial tissue growth while preserving the uterus and ovaries. When endometriosis is very severe and does not respond to conservative surgery, a hysterectomy may be required.

If you live in the Dallas area, get in touch with us at Fort Worth Center for Pelvic Medicine for an evaluation if you’re experiencing the symptoms of endometriosis. We can help develop a treatment plan that’s right for you. Contact us today to book an appointment at our office in Fort Worth.

Five Services Offered By an OBGYN in Fort Worth

Fort Worth Center for Pelvic Medicine provides a wide range of OBGYN services. Our medical professionals can treat conditions like menopause, infertility, urinary incontinence, and fibroids.

What is Laparoscopic Surgery?

Laparoscopic surgery involves the use of a laparoscope, which resembles a miniature telescope with a camera attached to it. The camera sends images to a monitor in the operating room. The surgeon will insert the laparoscope that provides magnification of up to 6X. Laparoscopic surgery requires smaller incisions than does conventional surgery. Patients, therefore, need a shorter recovery period, and many can go home the same day after surgery. Laparoscopic surgery offers more precision than conventional surgery and is particularly useful for treating endometriosis, adhesions, ovarian masses, and some cancers.

What is the MonaLisa® Touch?

The MonaLisa® Touch is a laser therapy used to treat women undergoing menopause who are experiencing the following symptoms:

Vaginal dryness
Pain during intercourse
Itching within the vagina
Urinary incontinence, frequency and/or urgency

The doctor uses a special laser to stimulate the healing process within the vagina that will produce more collagen and fibroblasts.

How Do You Treat Infertility?

Infertility has multiple causes, so the first step is determining the problem. Our OBGYN will take the patient’s history and perform a thorough physical followed by blood work, transvaginal ultrasound, and tests to ensure the patient’s fallopian tubes are open. We will then discuss the results of the tests and possible treatments with the patient.

What is Gynecologic Ultrasound?

Gynecologic ultrasound is a diagnostic tool used to evaluate abnormalities or diseases of the reproductive system. The ultrasound transducer emits sound waves that are used to produce detailed 3D and 2D images of the organs in the reproductive system.

You can learn more about the many services offered by our OBGYN during a consultation at Fort Worth Center for Pelvic Medicine in Fort Worth. Contact us today to schedule your appointment!

Finding Fort Worth Doctor Who is Board-Certified in Gynecology

As a woman, you know that gynecology is important when it comes to women’s health issues. As you search for a doctor in Fort Worth, you want to place yourself in the hands of one of the best that the area has to offer. A good place to start is by looking at board-certification. When a gynecologist is board-certified, it means that the doctor has gone beyond the standard level of expectations. There are minimum requirements that must be met in every state for a doctor to become licensed in order to practice medicine. When a doctor chooses to become board-certified, it requires additional education. In addition, a board exam must be passed at the end in order to meet all requirements. When you choose a doctor in Fort Worth who is board-certified in gynecology, it can give you peace of mind.

How to Find Out if a Gynecologist is Board-Certified

When you review the list of gynecologists in Fort Worth, you can go to websites online that allow you to check a doctor’s certification. Otherwise, try the gynecologist’s website. There is usually a page devoted to the doctor that will list all of the doctor’s credentials.

Making Sure Your Gynecologist is a Good Fit

You’re going to see your gynecologist at least once a year, perhaps more if there are any concerns or you are pregnant. The gynecologist is going to be focusing on the most intimate parts of your body and everything gynecology-related. You want someone who makes you feel comfortable during each visit. That is understandable, as you are discussing sensitive topics.

Experience the Benefits of a Board-Certified Gynecologist

You should be happy to know that our board-certified gynecologists at Fort Worth Center for Pelvic Medicine are caring, compassionate, professional, and truly experienced. You’ll work together to address health issues that are unique to a woman, focusing on your reproductive health. Our first-class gynecology services can help you as you make sure that everything is on track. If there is a problem, our doctor will make sure you get the attention that you need. Contact us today to schedule an appointment at our office in Fort Worth!

Leaky Bladder: What Are My Treatment Options?

Infertility: What Are My Treatment Options?

Do You Have an Overactive Bladder? Here is What You Can Do

Urinary Incontinence: How to Treat It

Telltale Symptoms of Menopause

Are You a Candidate for a Pessary Insertion?

Experiencing Vaginal Dryness? Explore Your Options In Houston, TX

What are My Options for Endometriosis Treatment in Dallas?

Five Services Offered By an OBGYN in Fort Worth

Finding Fort Worth Doctor Who is Board-Certified in Gynecology

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