Condition Affects One in Five Women between 18 -44 Years of Age Yet Many Do Not Seek Treatment Says Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s New Female Urologist
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Urinary leakage during exercise, or when coughing, laughing, or sneezing, are not an inevitable result of ageing or pregnancy. Women should feel comfortable discussing these problems with their doctor, according to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s newly appointed female urologist.
Dr. Seema Sheth, the female urologist in the Surgical Subspecialties Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, an integral part of Mubadala Health, says women now have a range of treatment options that can help address stress incontinence. These range from behavioral therapies, physical therapy, and various surgical treatments.
The new Female Urology Program at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi provides dedicated care for women with urological issues, including pelvic floor disorders, incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
“Urinary incontinence is more common in women than men and yet women are likely to suffer in silence. One of the main reasons is the normalization of it – women believe that it is normal to leak as you get older or once you have had children. But just because something is common, it does not mean that it is normal,” said Dr. Sheth.
“Another problem is that there are only a small number of female urologists in the UAE and women are often too embarrassed to share their urological health problems with a male physician,” she added.
Urinary incontinence affects about one in five women between 18 and 44 years of age and about 50 per cent of all women over the age of 65. Lifestyle, obesity, constipation, pregnancy and childbirth, and ageing are some of the common factors that can cause incontinence in women.
Dr. Sheth stresses that these conversations must begin at the primary care level. “Your primary care physician or gynecologist should ask about the issue when you have your regular checkup. Screening at these visits is essential because your primary care doctors can facilitate a referral. Patients must know that incontinence is common. They should not feel embarrassed to seek help.”
Patients referred to the Female Urology Program at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi undergo a complete history and physical examination. A tailored treatment plan is then drawn up to treat and manage the specific issue.
“Our multidisciplinary team takes into consideration a range of factors, such as medical history, age, type of incontinence and patient preference to customize a care plan that will give the patient optimum results. The solution can be as simple as some physical therapy and rehabilitation or we can recommend minimally invasive options that can effectively address the problem,” she said.
The Female Urology Program comprises of urologists, pelvic floor specialists, radiologists and a nursing team. The hospital offers treatments ranging from Botox to sacral neuromodulation for an overactive bladder, vaginal slings or fillers for stress incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse procedures. The program also runs a dedicated urodynamic clinic.
For more information or to book an appointment at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, call 800 222 33, visit www.clevelandclinicabudhabi.ae or download the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi app.
About Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi:
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, an integral part of Mubadala Health, is a multispecialty hospital on Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is a unique and unparalleled extension of US-based Cleveland Clinic’s model of care, specifically designed to address a range of complex and critical care requirements unique to the Abu Dhabi population.
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has the following Institutes: Heart & Vascular, Neurological, Digestive Disease, Eye, Respiratory, Critical Care, Surgical Subspecialties, Medical Subspecialties, Emergency Medicine, Anesthesiology, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Imaging, Quality & Patient Safety, and Clinical & Nursing. In all, more than 40 medical and surgical specialties are represented at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.
The facilities at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi combine state-of-the-art amenities and world-class service standards. The hospital is a 394 (expandable to 490) bed facility, with five clinical floors, three diagnostic and treatment levels, and 13 floors of critical and acute inpatient units. It is a physician-led medical facility served by North American/European Board Certified (or equivalent) physicians. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi provides patients in the region direct access to the world’s best healthcare providers and Cleveland Clinic’s unique model of care, reducing their need to travel abroad for treatment.
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi – Al Ain began offering select medical services in December 2017. The facility is located on the Tawam Hospital Campus in Al Ain.
About Mubadala Health:
Mubadala Health is the integrated healthcare network of Mubadala Investment Company. Established 2021, Mubadala Health operates, manages, and develops a portfolio of healthcare assets including: Abu Dhabi Telemedicine Centre (ADTC), Amana Healthcare, Capital Health Screening Centre (CHSC), Healthpoint, Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC), and National Reference Laboratory (NRL). In addition, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is an integral part of Mubadala Health. With a vision to transform the regional healthcare landscape, Mubadala Health sets a new benchmark for the UAE and regional healthcare industry through its state-of-the-art facilities and world-class caregivers who strive to put patients first across its continuum of care. Innovation, research, and education are the foundational pillars of Mubadala Health, supporting the further development of a sustainable healthcare sector in line with the vision of Abu Dhabi and the region.
