Pelvic Floor Research Group
The Pelvic Floor Research Group at the University of Michigan Health System is an internationally recognized research group working to improve the understanding and treatment of pelvic floor disorders. We have two major areas of focus:
- discovering the basic mechanism underlying the problem of pelvic floor disorders (i.e., exactly what has gone wrong to cause pelvic floor problems) and
- putting the knowledge into practice with cutting-edge strategies for prevention and treatment of these common and distressing conditions
The PFRG is an interdisciplinary assemblage of U-M providers and researchers. We focus on four research areas:
- using computer modeling to study injuries to the pelvic floor that occur during childbirth
- using advanced magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvic floor to study the details of pelvic floor injury in women with incontinence and prolapse
- developing innovative technologies for improving the assessment of pelvic floor muscle strength and urethral function
- using the detailed information from the studies to improve selection of patients for proper treatment
Our lines of investigation include:
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Cystocele, recotocele, enterocele, uterine prolapse, fallen bladder, fallen uterus
- Urinary Incontinence: Urge incontinence, stress incontinence, mixed incontinence, bladder leakage, fluid overload, bladder irritants
- Fecal Incontinence: Incontinence of gas or stool, flatal incontinence, constipation, loose stools
