Urogynecologist in Redding, CA

When you have a urinary problem, a thin camera called a cystoscope may be used to see inside your bladder and urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. The cystoscope has lenses like a telescope or microscope. These lenses allow your doctor to focus on the inner surfaces of the urinary tract. The cystoscope is as thin as a pencil and has a light at the tip. The procedure is usually not painful and lasts only a few minutes.

At Asuriti, we may perform cystoscopy to evaluate any of the following conditions:

• Frequent urinary tract infections

• Blood in your urine (hematuria)

• Loss of bladder control (incontinence) or overactive bladder

• Unusual cells found in urine sample

• Need for a bladder catheter

• Painful urination, chronic pelvic pain, or interstitial cystitis

• Urinary blockage such as stricture or narrowing of the urinary tract

• Stone in the urinary tract

• Unusual growth, polyp, tumor or cancer

• Preparation for surgery

A pessary is a rubber device that fits into the vagina to help support pelvic organs that are sagging into or out of the vagina. This includes a dropped uterus (womb), vagina, bladder (cystocele), or rectum (rectocele). The pessary provides support for the dropped organ(s), helps with discomfort from uncomfortable bulge, and may even help with stress urinary incontinence (leaking urine with cough, strain, or exercise). Wearing a pessary can also help pregnant women with incontinence. A pessary is a non-surgical option for treating pelvic floor dysfunction.

At Asuriti, you can be assured of expert pessary evaluation. A pessary needs to be fit precisely, and the right size can only be determined by an exam and fitting. It may take a few pessary fittings to find the right fit. Once the right size is found, you will probably need to have it checked every couple months. Sometimes the size or shape of the pessary will have to be changed to adapt to the dynamic nature of the human body.

Pelvic prolapse occurs when one or more pelvic organs drops from its normal location and pushes against the walls of the vagina, causing feelings of fullness, pulled muscles, and incontinence. This condition commonly occurs when the muscles in the area are weakened from childbirth or surgery.

Home remedies such as Kegel exercises, avoiding heavy lifting, and pessary devices may relieve symptoms of pelvic prolapse, and some cases they may be repair themselves on their own. However, pelvic prolapse often requires surgery to correct the moved organs and fully alleviate symptoms. Surgery varies depending on which organ is affected but may include repairing the bladder or urethra, closing the vagina, or a hysterectomy.

Urodynamic testing is an office procedure to test and evaluate the function and responses of your bladder. This is testing performed in order to determine the exact cause or causes of abnormal urinary symptoms.

At Asuriti, urodynamic testing is performed by a nurse with specialized training, in a private and sensitive environment. The results of the testing are carefully reviewed by Dr. Mooney and used to help guide treatment recommendations. Results are usually discussed with you in detail at a follow-up appointment.

Urethral bulking is a procedure used to treat urinary incontinence by injecting material around the urethra. This may help increase the thickness of the wall of the urethra so that it can seal tightly when you are holding back urine. A cystoscope (instrument with a fiberoptic camera) is used to see the inside of the urethra. Usually this is done in the office under local anesthesia. A needle is guided through the cystoscope into the urethra. The bulking material is then gently injected into the wall of the urethra in several places. This procedure is performed in the office and usually takes less than 30 minutes to complete.

The best treatment depends on the exact nature and cause of urinary incontinence. Good candidates may be:

• Women whose urinary incontinence is due mainly to a weakness in the sphincter muscle surrounding the urethra.

• Women who are not fit enough for surgery and anesthesia.

• Women who haven’t completed their family yet.

• Women for whom conventional surgery for urinary incontinence has not been successful.