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 is one of California’s largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,461-bed health system that includes UCI Health — Orange, UCI Health — Irvine, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties. As Orange County’s only academic health systems, UCI Health is home to the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in the county, the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department and a nationally recognized regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education. Follow UCI Health on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.