New options for pelvic floor wellness at Rhett Women’s Center
Pelvic floor disorders affect an estimated 34% of women over age 40, according to a 2022 study, yet many women accept symptoms as a normal part of aging.
Bladder leaks, vaginal dryness and discomfort after childbirth are often dismissed as problems women simply have to live with.
Today, non-surgical treatments are giving women more options to improve pelvic health, quality of life and confidence without surgical downtime. Treatment plans are customized to each patient’s symptoms and goals, whether that means feeling more comfortable during yoga, picking up grandchildren without worrying about leakage or addressing changes in vaginal appearance.
At Rhett Women’s Center, a gynecology practice in Mount Pleasant, Michelle Chandler, practice administrator and aesthetic specialist, says many women are surprised to learn that pelvic floor concerns can often be treated without surgery.
“Women shouldn’t feel like they just have to accept discomfort as part of aging,” Chandler said.
Nonsurgical Pelvic Floor Treatments
Empower includes the following three modalities: Vtone, FormaV and Morpheas8.
Vtone is a non-surgical technology Chandler compares to “doing 5,000 Kegels in 30 minutes.” FormaV works in remodeling the vaginal tissue and uses intramuscular electrical stimulation to strengthen pelvic floor muscles.
A small vaginal device stimulates and exercises the muscles during a 30-minute session. Patients typically receive one treatment per week for six weeks.
Chandler said the treatment can benefit women recovering after childbirth, experiencing urinary stress incontinence or seeking to improve pelvic floor strength and function. After the initial series, many patients return for maintenance treatments.
Personalized Treatment Options
For women with more significant symptoms, including urinary urgency, frequency or pelvic floor weakness, Chandler may combine therapies that use radiofrequency energy and Morpheas8V, a microneedle to stimulate collagen production and rebuild collagen to lift and tighten the entire pelvic floor and improve tissue support.
“Anytime we rebuild collagen, we help lift and tighten tissue,” Chandler said.
These treatments can help women experiencing urinary leakage, vaginal dryness, recurrent urinary tract or yeast infections, changes after childbirth, or conditions such as lichen sclerosus, a chronic inflammatory skin disorder affecting the genital area.
It’s also helpful for women experiencing symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause, including women who cannot use traditional estrogen therapy.
Every patient at Rhett Women’s Center receives an evaluation to determine the most appropriate approach based on symptoms, goals and overall health.
For those experiencing bladder leaks, pelvic floor weakness, vaginal dryness or other intimate health concerns, Chandler encourages them to talk with their provider rather than endure symptoms “as part of aging.”
“Women often don’t realize how normal their concerns are because nobody talks about them,” Chandler said. “We talk about these things every day, and there are options available.”
