Customized Treatment Options, Because Every Woman Is Unique
Our highly specialized team will help you identify your symptoms and discover personalized, surgical AND non-surgical treatment options.
You Don’t Have To Just Accept Your Symptoms,
Find Freedom From Bladder and Pelvic Floor Problems
Our goal is to restore confidence, dignity, freedom, and enjoyment of life to women suffering from conditions of the pelvic floor. These common conditions - urinary leakage, fecal seepage, falling bladders, and pelvic pain - often plague women and dramatically impact their lifestyle. But treating these conditions can't be a one-size-fits-all approach. Every woman is different. The treatment that works best for one woman, may not work at all for someone else.
A Team Assembled To Help
The Urogynecology Center at Minnesota Women's Care uses a team approach. This multi-disciplinary group of professionals works together to find the right treatment or combinations of treatments that will make a difference in the lives of our patients.
Our Pelvic Floor Team is a combination of :
- Urogynecologists
- OBGYNs
- Physician Assistant (PA)
- Pelvic floor physical therapists
- Chiropractors
- Specialized nurse practitioners.
There simply is not another clinic in the Twin Cities with this diverse combination of knowledge and experience.
Benefits of our team approach:
- Higher level of care
- They pool their knowledge for the best treatment options and outcomes
- You get an increased continuity of care
Our Process
FIRST, WE LISTEN
We listen to you. We want to hear your concerns and your health goals. Only then do we proceed with testing and finding the right course of treatment.
OUR TEAM WORKS TOGETHER TO FIND YOU OPTIONS
Our Pelvic Floor Team – a combination of urogynecologists, OBGYNs, pelvic floor physical therapists, chiropractors, and specialized nurse practitioners – work together to provide you with the best treatment option or combination of options.
WE GIVE YOU THE OPTIONS, AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN
Every woman is different. Every woman deserves a treatment plan that addresses her concerns with her preferences in mind. We'll work with you to develop a plan that's right for you and your life.
OUR EXPERTISE
Pelvic Floor Disorders
Urogynecology is the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic floor disorders which involve the complex system of muscles, ligaments, connective tissue, and nerves that help support and control the rectum, uterus, vagina, and bladder. Damage to the pelvic floor can occur for any number of reasons including childbirth, repeated heavy lifting, chronic disease, or surgery.
There are a wide range of symptoms that indicate a pelvic floor disorder. We are experienced with properly diagnosing the cause of these symptoms and finding a solution that will restore quality of life.
When appropriate, we believe in using the most conservative treatments first – those which do not involve surgery. The variety of treatments available at our Urogynecology Center is second to none. It allows us to suggest the best options for the best outcome.
CAUSES
Damage can occur for any number of reasons including: Childbirth, repeated heavy lifting, chronic disease or surgery.
SYMPTOMS
Incontinence:
Urinary and fecal incontinence are conditions that cause accidental leakage of urine or stool. Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control, while fecal incontinence is the loss of bowel control.
Prolapse:
Descent of pelvic organs; a bulge and/or pressure; “dropped” uterus, bladder, vagina or rectum (Includes Cystocele, Enterocele, Rectocele, Uterine prolapse, Vaginal vault prolapse)
Recurrent UTI’s
EMPTYING DISORDERS
Pelvic pain:
Discomfort to the lower back, pelvis or bladder and/or urethra
Overactive Bladder:
Frequent need to void, bladder pressure, urgency, urge incontinence (difficulty holding back urine when having the urge to urinate)
Fistulas:
Abnormal hole between the vagina and rectum (recto-vaginal), vagina and urethra (urethrovaginal), or vagina and the bladder (vesicovaginal)
Dry and/or Painful Intercourse
Urogynecology Topics
Appointment Request
If you would like to make an appointment with our Urogynecology Center, please let us know with this form or call us directly at 651-600-3035.
The WomanWoRX facility is now open in Maplewood! Visit our website at WomanWoRX.com to see our classes and read more about out collaborative approach. We can be reached by phone at (651) 294-1150
For on-demand programs and classes to help with pelvic floor rehab, fit pregnancy, postpartum rehab, and fitness,visit WomanWoRX.com.
We Won’t Cut And Run After Treatment, We’re In It For The Long Haul
Rather, we have maintenance solutions to ensure the treatment has worked and will continue to work long-term.
Resources/tools include:
- WomanWoRX Inperson & on-demand solution
- HomeWoRX device: home pelvic floor device to be used for MAINTENANCE therapy following active treatment
SPECIALIZED FITNESS
A Non-Surgical Method To Retrain Your Body To Function Properly
Receive a FREE 7-day Trial!
WomanWoRX is unlike any fitness program you’ve ever seen. With a firm foundation in physical therapy, chiropractic, fitness, and women’s health, our Women’s Health RXperts have carefully designed programs and on-demand solutions for incontinence, pelvic pain, prolapse, pregnancy, postpartum & more. Obtain optimal and sustained pelvic floor improvement with our new combined approach: physical therapy, chiropractic care, and guided exercise. For those not able to join us in person or want to compliment their treatment, WomanWoRX On-Demand is available at this link.
Urogynecology Center Treatments
We develop care plans that are attentive to our patients' emotional, educational, and physical needs.
Remember: Surgery is NOT the only answer. Our urogynecologists offer a number of non-surgical options that have helped many women find relief from troublesome symptoms. We’ll work with you to find the right solution.
We offer the widest range of treatments for the widest range of conditions. Our comprehensive approach sets us apart from any other clinic offering urogynecology care and treatment.
Look to Minnesota Women's Care for solutions including:
Extensive Workups
These include diagnostic testing such as UDS, Potassium sensitivity testing, BRS, anal U/S, ARMs, imaging (pelvic U/S, MRI, CT urogram, etc), cystoscopy, Urodynamics.
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Pelvic floor physical therapy has become a very successful treatment option for many women suffering from pelvic pain, some types of incontinence, and other significant pelvic floor disorders. Our specialized physical therapists have years of specialized training and additional education so they can accurately diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions.
Non-Surgical Treatments & Therapies
These treatments use different proven technologies to achieve results. They're often used alone or in combination to rebuild tissue, strengthen pelvic support, reduce symptoms of incontinence, and restore function. Based on your condition and health goals, we will recommend which treatment(s) will be best for you:
Click on the name for more details about these treatments
Surgical Treatment Options
Dr. Ashford has extensive experience of over 23 years, which perfectly equips him with the skills needed to correct even the most severe prolapse issues without mesh, helping patients achieve long-term success. We have extensive experience with a wide range of minimally invasive procedures to correct physical pelvic floor conditions and restore quality of life.
These procedures include:
Click on the name for more details about these treatments
A GLOWING GOOGLE REVIEW
What Our Clients Are Saying
I have been a patient at Minnesota Women's Care for almost 6 years and am finally writing a review, something I should have done years ago. When I first became a patient of Dr Ashford and his wonderful staff in June of 2016, I had been suffering for many years from pelvic pain, interstitial cystitis, painful intercourse, and frequent UTIs. I had seen many doctors, among them gynecologists and urologists. I received no help at all from the gynecologists and was generally just dismissed by them or prescribed useless drugs. The urologists attempted to help me with my IC and UTIs but in the end were able to do nothing but give me antibiotics for the infections and opioids for the pain. I was discouraged and depressed and finally decided on my own to research doctors who specialize in pelvic pain.
The name that kept popping up on my search was Dr Melvin Ashford at Minnesota Women's Care in Maplewood. I made an appointment and at my first visit Dr Ashford was immediately able to understand and pinpoint my problems. He started me on Sottopelle Bioidentical hormone pellets, pelvic floor rehabilitation and several therapies such as Thermiva and Femilft to help with muscle and vaginal pain. Within just a few months I was pain free!
Dr Ashford is not only very caring and patient but also extremely knowledgable in his field. He has a wonderful sense of humor and is easy to talk with. I am eternally grateful for him and his entire team. I know that my problems are chronic and cannot be cured, but I also know that I can always find the help I need at Minnesota Women's Care. Thank you Dr Ashford and all of your team! I recently had my 70th birthday and, to use your phrase, I am now able to "age gracefully," thanks to you!"