Biofeedback is here at Lakeside Women’s Health Center!!

WHAT IS BIOFEEDBACK? Biofeedback, also called Surface Electromyography (SEMG), is a learning technique that utilizes specialized equipment to assist a person in gaining control of their natural body functions. It involves the monitoring of a life process (bio) and the return of that information to the patient and therapist in a meaningful form (feedback). Biofeedback training uses sensitive equipment that enables you to see or hear how your muscles are responding to your instructions. Becoming aware of these responses is the first step in learning to control them. By combining this information with special exercises, you can learn to relax tense muscles or strengthen weak muscles. WHO USES BIOFEEDBACK? Biofeedback is sometimes recommended for the muscles of your pelvic floor. These muscles are responsible for bladder and bowel control as well as sexual response. Anyone interested in learning how to relax tense muscles, strengthen weak ones, or to control and coordinate use of muscles may benefit from biofeedback. WHAT DOES THE EVALUATION INVOLVE? For the evaluation you will use either an internal sensor, placed into the vagina or rectum, or external stick-on sensors placed around the rectal opening. These sensors are used to monitor the muscle activity of your pelvic floor. This enables you and your therapist to see and evaluate resting muscle activity as well as evaluate your muscle strength and endurance. The results of your evaluation will help your therapist design a specific treatment plan for your needs. WHAT IS REQUIRED AFTER THE EVALUATION? Your exercise program will depend upon the results of your evaluation. Almost everyone is asked to carry out a home exercise program utilizing the skills and exercises they learn in the clinic. Some people need special home biofeedback equipment to help them monitor their exercise program. If this is necessary for you, the equipment can be either rented or purchased. Your therapist will guide your treatment program, which usually takes 2 - 8 visits to the clinic. Please feel free to ask us any more information on biofeedback and

Urinary Incontinence Treatment Options

Women with urinary problems have many options for treatment at Lakeside Women’s Medical Center! We always start with a complete history and physical and we spend extra time learning our patients specific areas of concern. Our patients learn how diet and exercises can improve their problems at the first visits. We gather information about their usual routines and try to identify the specific triggers for each of our patient's problems. We teach our patients how they can gain bladder control with simple exercise programs. Some of our patients benefit from medication changes or new prescription and over the counter drugs. A few of our patients need surgery or a pessary device fitting. For more information visit our web site: www.DoctorHolladay.com

What is Vaginismus?

Vaginismus is an involuntary contraction of the muscles surrounding the entrance to the vagina, making penetration impossible and/or painful. The primary muscle group involved is called the pubococcygeus (PC) muscle group. An abnormality Vaginismus can be triggered by attempts at intercourse with the entry or approach of a penis to the vagina and/or by the approach of other objects such as a tampon, a doctor’s finger, or even your own fingers. The spasms constrict the vaginal opening making it virtually impossible to have entry. When tightened, attempts to insert anything into the vagina are painful and uncomfortable. There can also be related spasms in other body muscle groups and even halted breathing. Generally, when the attempt to put something in the vagina has ended, the muscles relax and return to normal. The severity of vaginismus varies from woman to woman. Some are able to insert a tampon and complete a gynecological exam but are unable to insert a penis. Others are unable to insert anything into their vagina. Vaginismus is NOT due to a physical abnormality of the genitals. We do a thorough evaluation of our patients prior to making an accurate diagnosis. In addition to vaginismus, there are a number of other disorders (e.g. vulvar vestibulitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, etc.) that can result in sexual pain. It is important that a reliable diagnosis is obtained so that the appropriate treatment can be recommended.

Why Worry About Incontinence?

Incontinence is a HUGE medical cost. When a woman needs to use pads daily to control leakage this can become very expensive. Women who miss out on exercise, dancing, playing with the kids are suffering needlessly. We want our patients to have full and active lives their WHOLE lives! Women are usually able to remain in their own homes in their elder years as long as they can control their urinary function. We have been doing incontinence surgery for 9 years. Dr. Holladay has developed a vaginal repair technique with a good success rate and low complication rate. Recently we have been offering our patients a vaginal mesh bladder correction that does not require a hospital stay. Most of our patients don’t need surgery, but we are glad to offer our patients the full spectrum of medical, surgical, and non-invasive exercise training for bladder control. Many women experience incontinence and have been treated at Lakeside Women’s Health Center. There is no one perfect treatment for everyone, programs need to be individualized for each patient. Women’s needs change through their life. Post-partum a woman may not be inconvenienced by a mild leakage problem if she knows it is a temporary part of post-birth recovery. function and be mobile enough to get up out of a chair. We want to find the most effective, cheapest, and least risky treatment methods for our patients bladder problems. (Seventy percent of post-partum moms have incontinence and most recover completely without much intervention.) Some women find they are disabled completely from vigorous activity because of chronic urinary leakage. Women need to exercise to stay healthy and we want to help keep our patients fit! Sometimes overactive bladder problems prevent women from getting sleep and this can exacerbate depression, hypertension, and increase her risk of over-eating and obesity.