Pelvic floor dysfunction is one of the most prevalent health conditions women face, yet most sufferers feel uncomfortable discussing it—even with their doctors. While especially common among women who have given birth to two or more children, pelvic floor issues remain vastly underdiagnosed. This leaves many women to go it alone, without necessary treatment.

Jeanette Krause of Buffalo Grove used to be one of those women. Plagued with the pain and embarrassment of bladder and bowel dysfunction, the 61-year-old finally reached the point of “unbearable” earlier this year and decided to seek medical help.

Stepping Forward
“I started asking around, and everyone I spoke with had the same answer—Dr. Goldberg,” recalled Krause, who was referring to Dr. Roger Goldberg, MD, MPH, part of the Advanced Gynecologic Care team at NorthShore. Krause is sharing her story in the hopes of helping other women understand that corrective relief is available.

A full-time nurse for 40 years, Krause is no stranger to healthcare. But she was thrilled to discover the new bowel dysfunction clinic at NorthShore. It features state-of-the-art ultrasound imaging technology and less-intrusive surgical options to repair and restore pelvic floor function.

“We now have sophisticated 3D pelvic floor ultrasound that provides comprehensive images of the muscles that make up the pelvic floor,” explained Dr. Goldberg, who holds an academic appointment at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. “This technology enables us to develop a more personalized and targeted treatment plan to correct the dysfunction.”

Regaining Control
“Dr. Goldberg and his team took the time to explain everything to me, and they showed me exactly how my muscles were supposed to be working and where the problems were. It really took the anxiety away,” said Krause, who underwent surgery to repair her pelvic floor. She spent just one night in the hospital, and returned to work two weeks later.

“Our clinic is developing minimally invasive approaches for big problems,” added Dr. Goldberg. “The goal of this kind of surgery is to restore confidence and quality of life. We want women to know that times have changed and there are solutions for what’s been the last frontier—bowel dysfunction.”

“Dr. Goldberg has skyrocketed my quality of life,” noted Krause, who now actively enjoys time with her three grandchildren. “These advances are amazing, and I’m sharing my story so other women can learn about their options and get relief sooner than I did.”