• Healthy State
  • Careers
  • Education
  • Research
  • Giving
Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
  • About
  • Find A Doctor (current)
  • Find A Location
  • Specialties & Treatments
MyOchsner Logo
Login | Signup
Submit Search
Close Search
  •   Home
  • In To Your Health...
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
  • I need to...
  • Find a Doctor
  • Find a Location
  • Find a Specialty
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Pay a Bill
  • Explore
  • About Ochsner
  • Careers
  • Patients & Visitors
  • "To Your Health" Blog
  • Health Resources
  • Medical Professionals
  • Education
  • Philanthropy
  • Community Outreach
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Research
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Call: 1-866-624-7637
  • Online: Login to MyOchsner
  • Personalize your content
  • patient Edit Persona Persona Chooser
To Your Health

View Newsletter Editions
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
Women looking at phone

What is a Pelvic Health Nurse Navigator?

Nov 16, 2021 |
By Amy Cox, RN
Share Facebook Logo Twitter Logo Pinterest Logo Email Logo

Pelvic floor dysfunction is the inability to control the muscles in your pelvic floor, which include the bladder, rectum and uterus or prostate. While pelvic floor dysfunction is common, people are not eager to discuss something so personal. It can be hard to know where to start. Once a patient has decided to pursue treatment, it’s my job as a nurse navigator to make that process as easy as possible.

Pelvic Floor Disorders

One in three women will experience a pelvic floor health disorder in her lifetime. Pelvic floor health disorders are more common than some types of women’s cancer, and we want women to know that they do not need to suffer alone. Pelvic floor disorders include:

  • Urinary leakage - Approximately 1 out of 3 women over the age of 45 and 1 out of every 2 women over 65 have sudden urinary incontinence. Some women may leak urine with common activities such as sneezing, laughing and coughing. This is known as stress incontinence.
  • Pelvic organ prolapse - Pelvic organ prolapse is the descent or "drooping" of the pelvic organs. A woman may feel like everything is "falling out.” This could be the uterus, front or back vaginal walls or the top of the vagina after a hysterectomy.
  • Overactive bladder – Overactive bladder occurs when a woman feels a sudden “gotta go, gotta go” feeling. Often, she is not able to make it to the bathroom on time.
  • Fecal incontinence - Fecal incontinence (also called defecatory disorder) can range from an occasional loss of gas to a complete loss of bowel control. This condition can be caused by aging, vaginal childbirth, diet and other factors. While it can be embarrassing and isolating, there are solutions.

What is a Nurse Navigator?

Nurse navigators guide the patient through each part of treatment, connecting them with the support and resources they need. As a pelvic floor nurse navigator, I act as a patient’s personal pelvic health concierge. My work includes everything from educating someone about pelvic health during that very first call for an appointment to working with insurance companies and medication coverage to coaching patients on lifestyle modifications.

Why Pelvic Health?

I have a passion for urologic and pelvic conditions that people are often reluctant to address. One thing I hear often is “This may sound weird,” especially the first time someone calls to seek treatment. I hear how relieved patients sound when they learn that not only are pelvic floor disorders common but that they’ve come to the right place for treatment. I love being able to help guide patients through treatment to better pelvic health.

At Ochsner, we offer a wide range of treatment options for pelvic health disorders ranging from lifestyle changes and medication to innovative procedures and robotic surgery. Our team offers a multidisciplinary approach to pelvic health care that is unique to our region. To make an appointment with our team of specialists, call 504-703-9601 or email pelvicfloor@ochsner.org, and RN Amy Cox will help guide you.

Tags
pelvic care
pelvic floor
nurse navigator

You may also be interested in:

Digestive health stomach pain 720x480 268332d7 c349 40d9 b9a6 a21c35fd60cd
Conditions & Treatment
March 19, 2021

What is Stress Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is any loss of control of your bladder. There are several types of urinary incontinence, and one of the most common is stress incontinence.
By Colin Goudelocke, MD
Sign pointing to the bathroom
Conditions & Treatment
March 23, 2021

What is Overactive Bladder?

Patients with overactive bladder typically experience urinary frequency and urgency and bladder leakage, resulting in more frequent trips to the bathroom.
By Colin Goudelocke, MD
Thinkstockphotos 494151712 Raw Cranberries
Conditions & Treatment
September 4, 2020

Does Cranberry Juice Really Help a UTI?

How effective are cranberries at preventing infection? What about all of the cranberry extracts that we see?
By Colin Goudelocke, MD

Comments about the blog? Send us an email!

Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
Schedule An Appointment: 1-866-624-7637
Follow us: Facebook Visit Ochsner Health on Facebook Twitter Follow Ochsner Health on Twitter LinkedIn Visit Ochsner Health's LinkedIn page Instagram Follow Ochsner Health on Instagram YouTube Subscribe to Ochsner Health on YouTube Pinterest Follow Ochsner Health on Pinterest TikTok Follow Ochsner Health on TikTok
Sign up for our free health and wellness newsletters delivered straight to your inbox.
SIGN UP

Patients & Visitors

  • Billing & Financial Services
  • Insurance Information
  • International Patients
  • Request Medical Records
  • Share Your Story
  • Read Patient Stories

Medical Professionals

  • Transfer a Patient
  • Refer a Patient

Health Resources

  • To Your Health Blog
  • Golden Opportunity
  • Healthy State
  • Ochsner Magazine

Job Seekers

  • Career Paths
  • Benefits
  • Open Positions

Employees

  • Webmail
  • OHSLink
  • Workday

Employers

  • Corporate Wellness
  • Medicare Advantage Plans

Community Outreach

  • Classes & Events
  • Programs
  • Community Health Needs Assessment
  • Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

Education

  • Graduate Medical Education
  • Clinical Medical Education
  • Continuing Medical Education
  • Medical Library
  • Publishing Services
  • Medical Illustrations

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Applied Health Services Research
  • Clinical Research & Trials
  • Nursing Research
  • Translational Research

Giving

  • Donate
  • Volunteer

About Ochsner

  • Mission & Vision
  • History
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Annual Report
  • Outcomes & Honors
  • News & Media
  • Alumni
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Contact Us

Shop

  • O Bar
  • Optical Shop
  • Ochsner Fitness Center
  • Brent House Hotel

© Ochsner Health  | Notice of Privacy Practices | Terms of Use | Vendor Information

Ochsner accepts all major insurances.

Ochsner is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, founded on providing the best patient care, research, and education.

We are one of the country’s largest non-university based academic medical centers.

Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Community Needs Health Assessment

EpicMobile Tablet | EpicMobile Phone

Subscribe to Our Newsletters

Select the newsletters you'd like to receive.

Please select at least one category to continue.

Curious about our newsletters?

View details for each edition

Let us know where to send your newsletters.

To Your Health- Food and Fitness:
To Your Health- General:
To Your Health- Men’s Health:
To Your Health- Parenting:
To Your Health- Women’s Health:
To Your Health-Mental Health Monthly":
To Your Health- Skin Deep:

Source:
Source Description:
Marketing Goal:

You're all set!

We’ll send newsletters full of healthy living tips right to your inbox.

Ochsner Health System
ESC to Close

Begin Typing to Search

Select the drop-down to filter Search by Blog Articles or Sitewide