Mobile mammography unit travels to ensure women’s health

FLORENCE, SC (WMBF) – The McLeod Mobile Mammography Unit takes digital mammogram screenings to women at health care facilities, businesses, industries, and health fairs to reach those women who do not undergo a mammogram for lack of time, awareness, and access. The unit provides a convenient, comfortable, and private setting in which women can undergo a screening mammogram.

Upcoming visits include:McLeod Family Practice Timmonsville (755 E. Smith Street, Timmonsville) Tuesday, November 2, 2010, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Pee Dee Active Day Center (2120 Enterprise Drive, Florence) Monday, November 8, 2010, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Schofield ACE Hardware (155 S. Cashua Drive, Florence) Wednesday, November 17, 2010, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
McLeod Family Medicine Johnsonville (355 South Georgetown Highway, Johnsonville) Thursday, November 18, 2010, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Pate Medical Associates (116 Hospital Square, Bishopville) Monday, November 29, 2010, 8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Any woman who meets certain conditions and criteria is able to have a screening mammogram performed on the mobile unit. No physician order is required for a screening mammogram, but each woman must have a referring physician to receive the mammogram results.

This procedure will also require insurance or a method of payment as normal screening mammogram charges apply (no cash please). Medicaid, Medicare, and Best Chance Network are accepted. Generally, women should be 40 years of age or older and must not have had a screening mammogram performed in the past 12 months for most insurance coverage.

Strengthen pelvic floor muscles to ease common women’s health issues

A variety of problems, including incontinence, constipation and prolapse can be traced to the pelvic floor muscles — a group of muscles inside the pelvis that many women don’t even know they have.

The pelvic floor muscles connect the bony structure at the bottom of the pelvis. These muscles help to keep the bladder, uterus and rectum in place. The urethra, anus and vagina all exit through and are supported by the pelvic floor muscles, said Maggie Coffman, clinical nurse specialist at Benefis Medical Group Urology.

The pelvic floor muscles have so much influence on so many systems, she said. And keeping those muscles healthy at every age is important.

This critical muscle group contributes to the physical sensations during orgasm and maintains vaginal tone, she said.

Many women have a good understanding of their organs but don’t understand that organs and muscles can affect each other, said Coffman, who specializes in pelvic floor dysfunction.

What appears to be a problem with the bladder, for example incontinence, might actually be an issue of the pelvic floor muscles.

Patients often find themselves at Coffman’s office after being referred by a urologist or another specialist who thinks that whatever problem they’re having, whether its urinary leakage or sexual dysfunction, stems from pelvic floor issues.

Some pelvic problems are related to the pelvic floor muscles and might not require surgery to fix, Coffman said. For example, women who are experiencing urinary leakage might need to strengthen their pelvic floor muscles. Patients who have a hard time urinating may also need to learn to relax those muscles

“With those patients, the muscles are too tight,” Coffman said.

Coffman often works with women to teach them how to exercise these muscles.

“Most women have heard of Kegels,” Coffman said.

Women often are told to do the exercises, which involve contracting and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles, during pregnancy to help with childbirth.

While many people have heard of Kegel exercises, named after Dr. Arnold Kegel who played a role in discovering the pelvic floor muscles, many people do them incorrectly.

“They’re actually hard to do correctly,” she said.

Many women have a hard time finding their pelvic floor muscles. Often patients squeeze their abs, legs or butt and think it’s the pelvic floor. For women who have pelvic floor weakness or spasms, they can be even harder to find.

“Weak muscles are hard to isolate, and it’s hard to make it do something,” Coffman said.

Many women have heard that a good way to do Kegel exercises is to start and stop their urinations. That’s actually not effective, Coffman said. That’s a good technique to help find the pelvic floor muscles, but actually can lead to urination problems.

Instead women should isolate and contract their pelvic floor muscles and hold up to 10 seconds, followed by complete relaxation for 10 seconds. Repeat to the point of muscle fatigue, which is usually 20 to 30 cycles, said Dr. Rollin Bearss, urologist at Benefis Medical Group Urology. Fatiguing the muscles helps strengthen them.

Women should work on strengthening their pelvic floor muscles before they develop problems, he said. Like other muscles, it’s easier to keep them toned when you work at it constantly, rather than letting them get out of shape and then trying to get them back into shape.

“By keeping your pelvic floor strong and healthy, you can help prevent certain types of bladder control problems and other common pelvic health issues,” Coffman said.