Women's Health in Focus - Part 1: Pelvic Health Uncovered - Pessaries, Pain, and Incontinence

Women & Reproductive Health (Obstetrics & Gynecology)

Female pelvic health conditions are highly prevalent yet remain frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated within primary care settings. This diagnostic gap results in prolonged patient suffering, inefficient healthcare utilization, and increased systemic costs. To improve patient outcomes and alleviate pressure on the healthcare system, it is essential to equip primary care providers with the specialized knowledge required to identify and manage these conditions effectively. 

In response to these needs, the PLP partnered with the L3 and urogynecology subspecialist Dr. Annick Poirier to develop a comprehensive webinar series. This learning initiative focused on the Provincial Female Urinary Incontinence Pathway, a pathway developed with support from PLP Medical Director, Dr. Katrina Nicholson, and was delivered in three-parts, covering pelvic health fundamentals, clitoral anatomy, and standardized clinical pathways for urinary incontinence. The completed series has provided primary care practitioners across Alberta with practical, evidence-based tools for assessing and managing complex pelvic health concerns, including safe and effective use of pessaries, genital anatomy and sexual pain, and screening and managing female urinary incontinence in primary care.