Dr. J. Kyle Mathews has the expertise to accurately diagnose vaginal prolapse
When you come to Plano Urogynecology Associates with any of the symptoms of vaginal prolapse, Dr. J. Kyle Mathews will recommend a pelvic exam in addition to taking a thorough medical history.
During this exam, you may be lying down, and you may also be asked to sit or stand. Dr. Mathews will ask you to bear down, which helps determine the size and degree of the prolapse. He may also ask you to contract the muscles that you use to stop your urine flow, allowing him to evaluate the strength of your pelvic floor muscles.
Additional tests to diagnose vaginal prolapse
If Dr. Mathews determines that your vaginal prolapse is more advanced, he may recommend additional tests.
Urodynamic tests
Sometimes, Dr. Mathews decides that a patient needs to have urodynamic testing to determine if the bladder is properly and completely emptying. This helps him determine the best treatment method possible for your vaginal prolapse.
There are several types of urodynamic tests, but two that are commonly used to check your bladder when you have vaginal prolapse.
- Uroflowmetry—this test measures the amount, speed/force and volume of urine. During this test, you simply urinate into a specially designed toilet which transmits information to create a graph.
- Cystometric test—during this test, Dr. Mathews will find out how much urine your bladder can hold, as well as the amount of urine that causes your bladder to feel full and creates an urgency to urinate. First, we completely empty the bladder with a catheter. Next, we place a special catheter in your bladder that contains a device called a manometer that measures pressure. Finally, warm water is injected slowly into the bladder, and you will be asked to tell us 1) when your bladder feels full and 2) when you need to urinate. We perform this test at our North Dallas area office while you are under local anesthesia.
Imaging tests
Most patients with vaginal prolapse will not need imaging tests, but Dr. Mathews may see something during his examination that he feels warrants further investigation, so he may recommend additional tests.
- Ultrasound
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging scan)
- Cystourethroscopy—this test is also performed in our North Dallas area office under local anesthesia. A cystoscope, which is a small, tube-like instrument with a camera and a light on the end, is inserted into the urethra so Dr. Mathews can check your urethra and bladder for any problems.
Diagnosing vaginal prolapse is a very important part of determining the treatment that is right for each patient. Dr. Mathews, an experienced urogynecologist, offers you the training and expertise that will leave you feeling confident about your diagnosis. For an appointment at Plano Urogynecology Associates, contact us.
