In the Section of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, our physicians have been performing a number of innovative urogynecology techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of urinary and fecal incontinence and pelvic floor disorders. Our department has one of the first American Board-Approved Urogynecology / Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Fellowships in the country, and it represents one of the only urogynecology fellowship programs in this region of the Midwest.
Both basic and advanced urodynamic testing, including video urodynamic testing, is available to evaluate women with urinary symptoms, disorders, and pelvic floor disorders. There are many different urogynecology treatments available for incontinence, urogynecology disorders and pelvic organ prolapse. For other types of incontinence and pelvic floor disorders, outpatient or inpatient surgical procedures can be performed, including reconstructive pelvic surgery. For urinary incontinence different types of outpatient procedures include tension free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure, transobturator tapes, mini-slings and sacral neuromodulation. To treat pelvic organ prolapse, short stay procedures include laparoscopic and robotic-assisted sacral colpopexy and vaginal reconstruction with and without mesh implantation.
Innovative office procedures include Botox intramuscular (bladder) injections for severe urge incontinence and periurethral and transurethral bulking agents (collagen, coaptite, Durasphere) injections for stress incontinence.
Cleveland Clinic Urogynecology Team
Marie Fidela R. Paraiso, MD
Dr. Marie Fidela Paraiso is Chief of the Center of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery and Co- Director of the program for Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. She has a dual appointment in the Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health Institute and the Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute. She is a Co- Investigator for the Pelvic Floor Disorders Network (a large NICHD grant funded group of seven U.S. centers) and is on the Board of Directors for the American Urogynecologic Society and Advisory Board of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists. She has published more than 80 peer review articles and book chapters and is a reviewer of eight peer review journals. She serves as Quality Reassurance Officer of our department. She is best known for advanced laparoscopic procedures and robotics for pelvic organ prolapse and graft use in pelvic floor surgery. She has given more than 100 invited lectures worldwide most recently for the Cleveland Clinic Downunder Conference for the Australian Gynecologic Endoscopy Society. Additionally, Dr. Paraiso was elected to the 2005 – 2008 Best Doctors in America database.
Mark D. Walters, MD
Dr. Walter is the Vice Chairman of the Women's Health Institute, Head of Benign Gynecology, Fellowship Director and Co-Director, Center for Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery. He also serves as a professor at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine.
Matthew D. Barber, MD
Director of Research, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Associate Professor of Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. Dr. Barber is the Vice President of the American Urogynecologic Society. In 2007, Dr. Barber received the "Best Clinical Research Paper Award" from the American Urogynecologic Society. In 2006, Dr. Barber was appointed principal investigator for the Pelvic Floor Disorders Network NICHD grant, making Cleveland Clinic one of only seven sites in the United States to participate in the study. In 2008, Dr. Barber received the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons Member Research Award. And, in 2009, Dr. Barber received the Rodney Appell Continence Care Champion Award at the American Urogynecologic Society’s (AUGS) scientific meeting.
J. Eric Jelovsek, MD
Director of Surgical Education and Residency Site Coordinator, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Assistant Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. Dr. Jelovsek received the District V ACOG Clinical Research Award in 2006 and 2008.
Beri Ridgeway, MD
Dr. Ridgeway has a dual appointment in the OB/GYN & Women's Health Institute and the Center for Geriatric Medicine. She specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of female urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Her interests inculde advanced laparosopy, robotics and vaginal surgery.
Have a women's health question of your own?
Have a confidential conversation with a trusted Cleveland Clinic Registered Nurse. Call 216.444.4HER and meet Mary McDonnell, RN. She's the voice at the other end of the line when you call the 4HER Line. A nurse specializing in women's health, Mary personally answers every call.
For more information about women's pelvic health issues, please visit the American Urogynecologic Society's Web site.
Traveling from a distance?
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