Considering Surgery

Finding the right physician to treat your stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a very important step in seeking treatment. There are several specialists that may treat SUI, but even within each specialty, there will be physicians who specialize in certain conditions and treatment options.

Taking time to do your research can make all the difference in the care you receive. Remember to ask questions, get references and ask doctors about their success rates for each procedure you consider. Be your own advocate to find the best fit for you.

• Gynecologists specialize in health care for women, especially the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the female reproductive organs. This is a broad specialty, so it is important to ask questions to understand what each gynecologist specializes in. Don’t be shy. Ask how many others with your condition the gynecologist treats in a given month. If your gynecologist focuses more on obstetrics (childbirth) than pelvic floor surgeries, it may be best to find someone who has more experience with the care you need.
• Urogynecologists are highly specialized – focusing on women’s reproductive system and urinary tract. They offer treatments for both pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. Since these conditions are often linked, seeing a urogynecologist may be a good option for you.
• Urologists provide care for both men and women and focus on the urinary tract and urogenital system – the kidneys, bladder and urethra. If you have stress urinary incontinence, this may be the right specialist to seek. Some, but not all urologists perform pelvic floor repair surgeries, so be sure to do your homework.

Remember to ask any questions you have to help you feel confident in your health care provider. Seek information on health care provider review sites and ask to speak to past patients, if possible. You should feel completely comfortable with your choice of doctor.