Conservative and Surgical Approaches to the Management of Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Organ Prolapse

This specialty session on women’s health will focus on pelvic floor dysfunction including urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Both are common conditions and have a significant impact on women’s quality of life. During this session we will review the types of urinary incontinence and compartments involved in pelvic organ prolapse and the conservative and surgical treatments options available. Our focus on conservative therapies will include pelvic floor physiotherapy and intra-vaginal devices for both pelvic floor conditions.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the different types of urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse and the available conservative and surgical treatment options.
• Become familiar with the role of pelvic floor physiotherapy for conditions of the pelvic floor.
• Participate in a hands-on demonstration of intra-vaginal devices used in the conservative treatment of urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.

Presenters: Marianne Pierce, BSc, MD, FRCS(C), Dalhousie University and IWK Health Centre, Halifax NS; and Stella Roy, PT, Bedford Health Centre, Bedford NS

Dr. Marianne Pierce is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Dalhousie University. She received her medical degree in 2003 from Dalhousie University and her Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology from Queen’s University in 2008. Since completing a clinical fellowship in Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery at Dalhousie in 2010, she has been a member in the division of Urogynecology and Pelvic Floor Surgery at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax. She is actively involved with the SOGC through various committees including the Urogynecology Committee. Her clinical interests involve women’s gynecologic health and in particular pelvic floor dysfunction secondary to childbirth.

Stella Roy has enjoyed her Women’s Health physiotherapy practice at Bedford Orthopaedic Health Centre since 2000. She helps women with pelvic pain or pelvic support issues and provides them with treatment, exercise and education. Stella graduated from St Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK with a Diploma in Physiotherapy and went on to work in Penticton, BC. She proceeded to Halifax to upgrade to a Physiotherapy degree at Dalhousie University in 1985 and has stayed here ever since. Stella’s other passion is International work with Rotary International. She has travelled to Nigeria, India and Madagascar with the END POLIO NOW campaign to vaccinate children and visit rehabilitation centres around the world for corrective surgery for Polio victims. She lives in Bedford and loves to hike with her dog Sailor and enjoys most water sports.