Your Right to Pelvic Health

Pelvic disorders are medical conditions that can be evaluated and addressed with a range of treatment options. Understanding your choices is an important part of making informed decisions about your care.

VNEW is a mesh-free option designed to support pelvic floor repair, based on your surgeon’s clinical judgment.

Understanding Your Pelvic Floor

Explore pelvic floor anatomy. Click each area to learn more.

Uterus

Expands to support pregnancy and contracts during birth; sheds its lining monthly when pregnancy does not occur.

Rectum

The final part of the large intestine, located just before the anus

Vagina

The vagina is a muscular, flexible canal that connects the cervix to the outside of the body and works together with surrounding tissues and pelvic floor muscles.

Urethra

The tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.

Bladder

The bladder stores urine and works with pelvic floor muscles to control release.

What’s Happening in Your Body

Pelvic organ prolapse involves changes in the muscles and tissues that support pelvic organs.
These changes may allow organs to shift downward and can be associated with sensations of pressure, fullness, or vaginal bulging.

Understanding the Causes

Pelvic floor weakness may be influenced by factors such as:

How it’s Treated

Treatment options vary based on individual symptoms, preferences, and clinical evaluation. For some women, pelvic floor therapy or lifestyle modifications may be appropriate.

For others, a healthcare provider may recommend a surgical repair using a biologic option such as VNEW, based on clinical judgment.

VNEW is designed to provide structural support during pelvic floor repair procedures.

Talk With Your Doctor About VNEW

A qualified healthcare provider can help determine whether VNEW is an appropriate option for you. We can help you find a clinician who treats pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence.

VNEW is Trusted by Patients
and Surgeons

Frequently Asked Questions​

What causes pelvic organ prolapse?

Common causes of pelvic organ prolapse include pregnancy, childbirth, hormonal changes after menopause, obesity, severe coughing, and straining on the toilet.

What are common pelvic organ prolapse symptoms?

Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when weakened pelvic floor muscles allow organs like the bladder, uterus, or rectum to drop into the vaginal canal. Common symptoms include a feeling of pressure or fullness in the pelvis, difficulty emptying the bladder or bowels, discomfort during sex, and noticing a bulge at the vaginal opening.

What are the types of incontinence?

The main types of urinary incontinence include stress incontinence, which causes leakage during actions like coughing or exercising, urge incontinence, marked by a strong sudden need to urinate, overflow incontinence, where the bladder does not empty fully and dribbling occurs, and functional incontinence, which happens when physical or cognitive challenges make it hard to reach the bathroom in time.

What are the types of prolapse?

The main types of pelvic organ prolapse include uterine prolapse, where the uterus drops into the vaginal canal, cystocele, which involves the bladder pushing into the front vaginal wall, rectocele, where the rectum bulges into the back vaginal wall, and enterocele, which occurs when the small intestine descends toward the vagina.

What does pelvic organ prolapse look like?

Pelvic organ prolapse often appears as a soft bulge or tissue protruding at the vaginal opening, which may become more noticeable when standing or straining. Some people describe it as seeing or feeling something that looks like a small balloon or lump at the entrance of the vagina.

What is Stress Urinary Incontinence?
Stress urinary incontinence, otherwise known as SUI, is a condition that involves the excess leaking of urine during physical exercise, as well as other abdominally straining-intensive actions such as sneezing or coughing. It is typically caused, by weakened muscles surrounding both the bladder and urethra. 
 
What treatment options are available for Stress Urinary Incontinence?

Before considering invasive options, there are many ways to improve SUI if its symptoms are not debilitating or serious. Specifically, consider pelvic floor exercises,  lifestyle changes such as increased exercise with balanced rest, and even certain FDA-approved medications. If your stress urinary incontinence is more serious, there are many surgical options, including but not limited to urethral slings and artificial urinary sphincters.

Patient Resources

Voices for PFD

Educational website about pelvic floor disorders. Forum for women to connect with other patients.

Patient Education Videos

YouTube channel hosts a variety of patient educational videos on pelvic floor disorders.

Pelvic Disorder Fact Sheets

Fact sheets designed to help you better understand your diagnosis and treatment options.

Patient Brochure on POP

Brochure designed to help you better understand pelvic organ prolapse and treatment approaches.