Pelvic floor disorders include difficulty emptying the rectum or the urinary bladder. In their advanced stages, pelvic floor disorders can result in prolapse or falling out of internal tissue through the rectum or vagina, rectocele, cystocele, enterocele, bladder outlet obstructions and pelvic pain.
A surprising number of men and women live with incapacitating problems of the bowel, urinary tract and pelvic floor. These are noncancerous conditions, but many patients are embarrassed to discuss them and reluctant to seek treatment. Patients who have lost control of their bowel or bladder, have painful hemorrhoids or have chronic constipation may believe they simply must “live with it.”
The COPE Center (Center for Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disorders) was the first practice in St. Louis to bring together diagnosis and treatment for these highly personal, stressful conditions. The center is set up to handle diagnosis, screening and treatment of these disorders.
Learn more about pelvic floor disorders:
Learn more about the COPE Center.