Making urology care a positive experience for women
Limiting testing, tuning into body language key for preserving patient comfort, says UCI Health expert
IN THE NEWS: Pain and fear of pain make urology care an uncomfortable experience for many women. This can impede their access to needed care for urinary incontinence or other urological problems.
The good news is that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has recently released pain management guidance for in-office procedures. At its core is the recommendation to provide comprehensive counseling so that patients are aware of their options and empowered to choose what it best for them.
Dr. Felicia Lane, a urogynecologist at UCI Health, spoke with Medscape about limiting invasive testing as much as possible.
“Doing the minimum number of invasive things to get your diagnosis is key.”
Ultimately, it’s important that physicians treat patients with respect and tune into their body language to help alleviate any fears.
“Make sure they are draped, maintain eye contact and tune in to their body language. When a patient rolls their toes, I can tell they are uncomfortable. I will then ask if they need a break.”
Lane specializes in pelvic reconstructive surgery and is highly skilled in minimally invasive surgical techniques, including robot-assisted surgery, at UCI Health Urogynecology Services. She is an expert in treating female urinary and anal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, sacral nerve stimulation and interstitial cystitis.
Lane’s clinical and research interests include managing rectocele, cystocele and uterine prolapse, as well as the use of slings and sacral nerve stimulation (Axionics® and InterStim™) to treat urinary and bowel incontinence, overactive bladder, as well as using stem cells to treat anal incontinence.
She is vice chair of clinical affairs, a professor and director of the Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, at the UC Irvine School of Medicine.
To make an appointment call 949-398-1440
About UCI Health
UCI Health, one of California’s largest academic health systems, is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. The 1,317-bed system comprises its main campus UCI Medical Center, its flagship hospital in Orange, Calif., the UCI Health — Irvine medical campus, four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and a network of ambulatory care centers across the region. UCI Medical Center provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to the only Orange County-based National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).