Urogynecologic problems are not uncommon. In fact, 50-70 percent of all women will experience some incontinence in their lifetime and 11 percent of all women will have surgery for pelvic organ prolapse. Though incontinence may be an isolated problem, it frequently is part of a symptom complex that includes pelvic organ prolapse and functional disorders of the other pelvic organs.       Since the early 1990’s, the development of the subspecialty of urogynecology has enabled women to benefit from the expertise of physicians trained to view all of the anatomical and functional components of the pelvis as a whole. Treatments designed to address all of the problems are more likely to provide a permanent beneficial result. Signs and Symptoms of Pelvic Disorders: • Incontinence – loss of bladder or bowel control with leakage or soiling • Prolapse – descent of pelvic organs into the vagina creating a bulge, “dropped bladder, uterus, or rectum” • Emptying disorders – difficulty urinating or having bowel movement • Pelvic pain – discomfort often aggravated by sexual activity • Overactive bladder – frequent need to void, urgency, or difficulty holding back a full bladder