MonaLisa Touch, a new treatment option offered by Urology Associates, delivers immediate and long-lasting relief through laser technology.

Take a look at a few of the frequently asked questions about this life-changing procedure.

Q: What happens during treatment?

A: The procedure will seem similar to your annual exam, and will likely be even quicker. Your healthcare provider will insert the laser tip into your vagina and deliver laser energy “pulses”. The total procedure time is less than 5 minutes.

Q: Does it hurt?

A: The laser energy itself is painless. Some patients report mild discomfort with the laser tip insertion during the first procedure due to vaginal dryness.

Q: How soon can I expect results?

A: Many patients have reported that they experience relief right away. Virtually all patients have experienced relief by the second treatment, or week 6.

Q: How long does treatment last?

A: MonaLisa Touch provides long-lasting results. A once-a-year single treatment is recommended to maintain symptom relief. This can be done quickly and conveniently during your annual checkup.

For more information about MonaLisa Touch, visit our website or give us a call at (888) 329-7700.

The Women’s Institute for Sexual Health (WISH) at Urology Associates, P.C., is one of the few clinics in the country that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of female sexual dysfunction. Women who are experiencing sexual dysfunction in Nashville, and beyond, can turn to our sexual health professionals for guidance on a variety of common conditions, such as hypoactive sexual desire disorder, female sexual arousal disorder, sexual aversion disorder, and female orgasmic disorder, just to name a few.

You can hear more about sexual health in women by watching this interview with the Clinical Director of WISH. She explains some common forms of sexual dysfunction and discusses their alarming prevalence as compared to sexual dysfunction among men. She also discusses treatment guidelines implemented at WISH.

A division of Urology Associates, P.C., The Women’s Institute for Sexual Health (WISH) provides specialized care in our state-of-the-art facility. At WISH, women will find compassionate and highly trained professionals who are dedicated to promoting better sexual health and quality of life.

When estrogen levels decline after menopause, many changes occur. Millions of women experience symptoms such as vaginal dryness, itching, burning or painful intercourse as a consequence of these changes. Many women suffer silently, and those who seek treatment find their options limited: messy estrogen creams or hormone replacement therapy, which isn’t for everyone.

MonaLisa Touch laser treatment is a simple procedure that takes less than 5 minutes.

It delivers both immediate and long-lasting relief. And it’s clinically proven to really work.

• Simple, painless laser energy
• In-office, no anesthesia
• No side effects
• No downtime
• Symptom relief after just one treatment
• Thousands of women successfully treated since 2008

A new procedure that patients have called “life-changing”.

MonaLisa Touch delivers gentle laser energy to the vaginal wall that stimulates a healing response and enhances moisture levels in the vaginal canal. A typical course of treatment is three procedures over 12 weeks.

Many women report symptom relief after the very first treatment and even greater improvement after treatments 2 and 3.

For more information about MonaLisa Touch laser treatment, visit our website or give us a call at (888) 329-7700.

Traditionally, research and treatment development in the field of sexual dysfunction has been applied primarily to men. However, it has been suggested that women may suffer from sexual dysfunction at a higher rate than men. While many people are hesitant to discuss matters pertaining to sexual health , consulting a urology specialist may help women improve their quality of life and overall well-being.

Common Concerns

Sexual dysfunction is a multifaceted problem that may involve numerous concerns. It’s common for women to experience a low libido, or lack of sexual interest. Some women experience problems becoming physically aroused while others have trouble achieving an orgasm. Painful intercourse is another common concern.

Possible Causes

By consulting a urologist , women can discover the underlying causes of sexual dysfunction. For example, painful intercourse may be caused by medical problems such as endometriosis, ovarian cysts, vaginitis, or vaginismus. This last condition refers to painful muscle spasms, which can develop in women who fear penetration, typically because of previous trauma. Other physical causes of sexual dysfunction may include medications such as antidepressants or medical conditions such as diabetes, hormonal imbalance, neurological diseases, and heart disease. There may also be psychological causes of sexual dysfunction, including chronic stress and anxiety, depression, and relationship problems.

Diagnostic Tests

When a woman consults a urologist about sexual health issues, she can expect to discuss her symptoms. Then, the doctor will likely perform a physical exam, including a pelvic exam and Pap smear. Sometimes, other tests may be requested to rule out underlying medical problems.

Treatment Options

A woman’s treatment options for sexual dysfunction depend largely on the underlying causes. Treatment may be available to resolve medical problems that can cause sexual dysfunction. Or, the patient may benefit from using relaxation techniques, distraction techniques, and stimulating non-coital behaviors, such as massage.

The Women’s Institute for Sexual Health (WISH) at Urology Associates, P.C. offers sensitive care for women suffering from sexual dysfunction in Nashville and beyond. Our highly trained urology team provides diagnostic and therapeutic services. Urology Associates, P.C. also consult with some of the area’s leading professionals, including gynecologists, massage therapists, and psychologists, to provide women with a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. Learn more on our website or by calling us at (888) 329-7700.

If your physician has referred you to a urologist, you can rely on the team at Urology Associates, P.C. to provide personalized, compassionate care. Our 12 locations throughout the Nashville area and our 10 satellite clinics means that our urology patients are never very far away from getting the help they need. We are widely recognized as the leading provider of treatments for issues related to urology in Nashville and beyond.

At Urology Associates, P.C., you’ll have access to our on-site diagnostic and imaging center, which features the latest in medical technology to inform accurate diagnoses and effective treatment recommendations. At our on-site Urology Surgery Center, patients can undergo non-invasive treatments and minimally invasive surgeries. We are also pleased to offer our patients a suite of specialty services at our Advanced Therapeutics Center, Women’s Institute for Sexual Health, and our new Men’s Health Clinic.

There’s no need to suffer with kidney stones, sexual dysfunction, incontinence, or related health problems. Contact Urology Associates, P.C. today and let us know how our team can help you.

Your bladder is an organ in your pelvic region that is responsible for storing urine before it is expelled from the body. Hearing that you’ve been diagnosed with cancer is never easy to cope with. However, the good news is that bladder cancer is most often detected when it is still in its early stages, which means that it is more easily treatable as compared to diagnosis in the later stages. After your diagnosis, you’ll likely be referred to a urologist to discuss your treatment options.

Types

Transitional cell carcinoma comprises the bulk of all bladder cancer cases. With this type of bladder cancer, the malignant cells appear similar to the urothelial cells, which are found on the inside of the bladder. If your urologist describes the cells as non-invasive, it means that the cancer has not penetrated the deeper layers of the bladder. Invasive cancers, on the other hand, have begun to spread. Less common types of bladder cancer include squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, small cell carcinoma, and sarcoma.

Symptoms

Urologists recommend that patients act as their own advocates for their well-being. If you notice any unusual symptoms, it’s important to make an appointment for a check-up as soon as possible. Ignoring the symptoms of bladder cancer, such as bloody urine, gives the cancer an opportunity to spread. Other symptoms include frequent or painful urination, and pain of the back or pelvis.

Treatment Options

Many factors will inform your treatment recommendations, including the type and stage of cancer , your personal preferences, and your general health. Different surgical approaches are available for both early-stage and late-stage cancer. Chemotherapy may be used before or after surgery, or without surgery. Bladder cancer patients might also receive biological therapy drugs, or immunotherapy, which stimulates the immune system to fight the disease. Less commonly, a physician might recommend radiation therapy for bladder cancer.

If you’ve been diagnosed with bladder cancer in Nashville, you can consult a specialist at Urology Associates, P.C. Our urology specialists can help you understand the disease and explore your treatment options. In the event that surgery is a viable option for you, you can take advantage of our on-site Urology Surgery Center.