"Thanks to modern treatment methods available at our Continence Center, women who experience incontinence or other urinary problems can find successful ways to cure or manage their disorder in one caring, convenient setting," said Dr. Hessami.

According to recent studies, more than 25 million Americans, the majority of whom are female, suffer from incontinence - an ailment that many will not talk about with their best friends or their doctors.  In fact, more than 50% of women between the ages of 42-50 suffer from some degree of this problem.

The Continence Center at Palisades focuses on the surgical and non-surgical treatment of a wide range of non-cancerous gynecological problems, including:

• Urinary Incontinence (the involuntary loss of urine)
• Fecal Incontinence (inability to control bowel movements or gas)
• Pelvic Organ Prolapse (the descent of pelvic organs into or out of the vagina)
• Bladder Disorders
• Overactive Bladder
• Voiding Dysfunction (problems urinating including hesitancy and poor stream)
• Constipation
• Pelvic or Bladder Pain
• Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection
• Sexual Dysfunction
• Interstitial Cystitis (Discomfort or pain in the bladder and the pelvic region)
• Urological Problems During Pregnancy
• Genital Track Fistulas

Treatment options for these issues include non-surgical treatments, as well as minimally invasive surgical interventions. Treatments offered at the Continence Center at Palisades include:

• Medication
• Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation (Working with specially trained physical therapists to improve the strength and function of the pelvic muscles)
• Biofeedback (Utilizes special equipment that allows patients to document their progress while practicing certain therapies)
• Pessary (A soft, silicone device that is placed into the vagina to reduce prolapse and/or treat incontinence without surgery)
• Office-based Procedures (Included are the use of collagen and Botox injections, as well as radiofrequency energy)
• Electronic Stimulation (Interstim therapy uses a device similar to a pacemaker which is implanted into the sacral nerve)
• Surgery (Techniques include vaginal, laparoscopic and open procedures)

"Until now, many women experiencing incontinence or other urinary problems had to travel outside of our local community for services," said Bruce J. Markowitz, President and CEO of Palisades Medical Center.  "Our new Continence Center offers the expertise, compassion, and medical leadership that has defined and guided Palisades Medical Center for 30 years."

For more information or to schedule an appointment at the Continence Center at Palisades, please call (201) 520-4790.

Palisades Medical Center

Palisades Medical Center is a regional hospital located in North Bergen, NJ, serving a population of 350,000 in Hudson and Southern Bergen Counties.  The hospital is a member of the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System, and operates the 202-bed Medical Center as well as The Harborage, a 245-bed rehabilitation center and nursing home.  Palisades Medical Center recently earned an exemplary review by the Joint Commission of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) thanks to the outstanding efforts of its 1,000+ employees.