Urogynaecology

Mediclinic brings together the specialists who care for women's pelvic-floor and bladder health. Leaking, a sudden urgent need to pee and a vaginal bulge are common problems, and much of what's behind them can be eased or put right. We handle these problems from first tests through to treatment, in one place.

What is urogynaecology?

Urogynaecology looks after pelvic-floor problems in women. The pelvic floor is the layer of muscle that supports the bladder, womb and bowel. When it weakens or is damaged, urine can leak, or an organ can drop down into the vagina. A urogynaecologist is a gynaecologist with extra training in these problems. The work spans careful diagnosis, physiotherapy and surgery, along with follow-up over time. That's different from urology, which treats the urinary tract in women and men.

When should you see a urogynaecologist?

Book an appointment if you notice:

• Leaking urine when you cough, laugh or exercise
• A sudden, urgent need to pee that is hard to hold
• Needing to pee very often, or getting up at night to go
• A bulge, lump or feeling of heaviness in the vagina
• Repeated urine infections
• Discomfort or leaking during sex

If you suddenly cannot pee at all and it becomes painful, this needs urgent medical care.

These problems become more likely after childbirth and around menopause, and they're common and treatable. You don't need to wait until symptoms take over your day. In the UAE, some insurance plans ask for a referral from your family doctor, while others let you book directly.

What to expect

At your first visit, we'll ask about your symptoms and how they affect daily life, and examine you gently. Many women are asked to keep a short bladder diary of what they drink and how often they pee. If we need a clearer picture, we may arrange urodynamic tests, which measure how the bladder fills and empties, or a scan. The examination is done in private, and we go at your pace.

Treatment usually starts with the simplest options: pelvic-floor physiotherapy, bladder training and everyday changes. When more help is needed, a pessary, a small support device placed in the vagina, can hold a prolapse in place. Medicines can calm an overactive bladder. Surgery is there for prolapse or leaking that has not settled, and your doctor talks you through what suits you. Many women improve with these first steps alone and never need an operation.

Urogynaecology at Mediclinic

Our urogynaecology and pelvic-floor care is available in Dubai and Al Ain. In Dubai, several of our hospitals run dedicated female pelvic-floor services, where more than one speciality shares the care of each woman. Between them they can assess and treat most women without sending them elsewhere.

We carry out bladder-function testing to pinpoint the problem, and our physiotherapists help women build up the pelvic floor, including during and after pregnancy. Much of our surgery is keyhole and done as a day case, whether that's a sling to support the bladder or an operation to repair a prolapse. When a problem also involves the bowel or the wider urinary tract, we work alongside colorectal and urology colleagues.