About urogynaecology

Urogynaecology specialises in treating disorders involving the pelvic region. Patients are often women with pelvic floor disorders or conditions involving the organs, muscles or connective tissues in the pelvic area.

Our outpatient urogynaecology clinic support women who are experiencing urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse or lower urinary tract disorders. We offer a range of investigations and treatments for overactive bladder, stress urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, both simple and complex, interstitial cystitis, recurrent urinary tract infections, perineal trauma and urinary voiding dysfunction.

How to access our services

You can be referred to this clinic via your GP, another hospital consultant or from other continence service providers. When we receive your referral, we will send you an appointment letter with a date and time to attend the clinic. Depending on your condition, we may send you a bladder diary to complete and an instruction letter for you to complete an online questionnaire about your symptoms and quality of life, known as an ePAQ questionnaire.

A consultation consists of a urine test, weight and height assessment, a full medical history and physical examination. If you need to have urodynamic investigations, you will be given information before you leave about which tests are required and an appointment will be arranged for you.

Our outpatient urogynaecology clinic is located on the first floor of the Women's Centre at Bishop Auckland Hospital and on the first floor of the Colposcopy Suite at Chester-le-Street Community Hospital. 

Urodynamics are investigations to demonstrate how your bladder is working. Urodynamics are diagnostic tests that can help to identify the cause of incontinence problems so that the best treatment can be offered to you.

These clinics, run by our urogynaecology specialist nurses, support patients with bladder retraining, pelvic floor physiotherapy, clean intermittent self-catheterisation, bladder instillations and advice for interstitial cystitis.