Urogynecology

Let's face it – no one wants to interrupt life with frequent trips to the bathroom. But if you're a woman in midlife, those urges, while not life-threatening, may be more than just an annoyance. They affect your quality of life.

Get the confidential, compassionate urogynecology care you need to live your life to its fullest. Join the one in three American women who find relief with the help of a urogynecologist.

Expert Care

Find the region’s first and only board-certified and fellowship-trained urogynecologist, Dr. Matthew Barker, at Avera Medical Group Urogynecology in Sioux Falls, SD. Along with our comprehensive women’s health team, Dr. Barker treats a variety of conditions, such as:

• Urinary and bowel disorders
• Pelvic support problems
• Pelvic pain
• Prolapsed uterus
• Sexual dysfunction

At Avera, you'll receive an additional layer of support and guidance from our urogynecology nurse navigator. Count on this registered nurse to coordinate your care, answer your questions and provide emotional and social support throughout your care.

Specialized Care For Urogynecologic Symptoms

Benefit from the specialized urogynecologic care if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Urinary incontinence
• Overactive bladder - urgency and frequency
• Fecal incontinence
• Constipation
• Pelvic pain or pressure
• Painful intercourse

Typically, these issues affect post-menopausal women. However, younger women, also may experience such conditions, which often are associated with childbirth. Take a risk assessment to find out if you’re likely to develop urinary incontinence.

Advanced Treatment Options

Choose from a variety of treatment options such as physical therapy, medications, biofeedback and minimally invasive, same-day surgical techniques.

Urogynecologic Surgery

Dr. Barker specializes in female reconstructive surgery and holds extensive training in vaginal, laparoscopic, and robotic surgical management of incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. This means you can find the best in urogynecologic surgery services at Avera.

Hidden Scar Hysterectomy

With additional training in the Hidden Scar Hysterectomy procedure, Dr. Barker can also perform a total hysterectomy through a small, hidden scar inside the vagina. Hidden Scar Hysterectomy is the least invasive way to remove the uterus.

MonaLisa Touch^®

If you experience vaginal dryness, burning or painful intercourse, MonaLisa Touch provides a safe, effective and non-hormonal way to be treated. During this procedure – which only takes a few minutes and feels similar to a Pap smear – a laser stimulates collagen production in order to help the vaginal tissue return to its optimal state with minimal to no discomfort or downtime.

Bulkamid Procedure

Bulkamid is a new office-based procedure used to treat women with stress urinary incontinence. The Bulkamid Urethral Bulking System uses a camera with a needle attached to inject a liquid-based permanent gel into the urethral mucosa. The gel works like a filler in the urethra making it harder for urine to leak out. The patient is awake for the quick procedure, or it can be done in our surgery center to improve comfort, but there is no recovery.

Patients have no restrictions after their procedure and can resume normal exercise the next day. Sometimes a touch-up is required if persistent urinary leakage continues. Sometimes urinary retention occurs, but this is temporary.

Bulkamid may be used for adult women with stress urinary incontinence who may experience uncontrolled urination during exercise or other body movements, such as laughing, coughing or sneezing.

Sexual Medicine Program

A common, but often unspoken condition that many women face is pain during intercourse following childbirth, cancer treatment, surgery or trauma.

Count on Avera’s Sexual Medicine Program – the first and only program of its kind in the region – to help restore this aspect of your life. Based on your individual needs, our innovative program can bring together experts from urogynecology, cancer care, counseling, physical therapy and more to offer you a holistic approach to treatment.

If you experience any change in sexual function – such as vaginal dryness, decreased desire and arousal or discomfort and pain with intercourse – call 605-504-1900 to schedule your consultation.