AUGS was established in 1979 and represents more than 1,900 members, including practicing physicians, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, nurses and health care professionals, and researchers from many disciplines.

American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS)

This course is well suited for physicians, fellows, and residents, who are interested in learning practical clinical and surgical pearls from surgical experts from FPMRS, Urology, and Gynecology. In-person and virtual registration rates include access to recorded sessions six months following the completion of the live meeting.

Here are just a few reasons why your peers are attending:

six months following the completion of the live meeting.

Sessions focused solely on sharing practical clinical and surgical techniques

 for the management of women with complex pelvic floor disorders and complications

specializing in pain, colorectal surgery, urology and minimally invasive approaches during panel discussions

Video presentations focused on improving 

surgical skills and techniques that you can use immediately in your practice

Small, interactive roundtable sessions focused on discussing

Articles

Register for AUGS Clinical Meeting 2022, Beyond Urogynecology: Pearls for Best Practice! Join us in sunny Santa Monica, California, or virtually from the comfort of your home or office!

AUGS Clinical Meeting 2022, Beyond Urogynecology: Pearls for Best Practice 

AUGS Clinical Meeting 2022, Beyond Urogynecology: Pearls for Best Practice | October 13-15

AUGS Clinical Meeting 2022, Beyond Urogynecology: Pearls for Best Practice

! Join us in sunny Santa Monica, California, or virtually from the comfort of your home.

 before the Early Bird deadline of August 26, 2022. 

Content focused solely on sharing practical clinical and surgical techniques

specializing in pain, colorectal surgery, urology, and minimally invasive approaches during panel discussions

 will be a robust, comprehensive review of female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery for healthcare professionals who desire a review of state-of-the-art developments in the field, as well as medical students and residents who are interested in learning more about the practice of urogynecology.

 with an emphasis on relevant clinical information. The Course will be conducted by 

nationally-renowned, highly engaged faculty

 dedicated to providing you with practical, meaningful information that you can implement immediately.

AUGS Webinar: How Physiatry and Urogynecology Interconnect

: 7 pm Eastern (6 pm Central, 4 pm Pacific)


This webinar will highlight the unique current and potential collaboration between the specialties of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R)/Physiatry and Urogynecology and focus on how together we can achieve our shared vision of optimal care for women's pelvic health.

Wondering what events are coming up for the American Urogynecologic Society? Find out more here.

Upcoming American Urogynecologic Society events for 2022

Call for Board Nominations and Committee Volunteers

AUGS members guide the subspecialty and the organization. Help shape the future of your Society by nominating a future Board member or applying to serve on a committee. All terms begin in January 2023. 

Pelvic Floor Health: Your Guide to Pregnancy and Postpartum Care

Experts from AUGS have developed a product for patients that delivers guidance and recommendations to help maintain and restore quality of life, for pregnant and postpartum women.

 Linda Brubaker, MD (Chair); Joan Blomquist, MD; Olivia Cardenas-Trowers, MD; Colleen Fitzgerald, MD; Yvette LaCoursiere, MD; Christina Lewicky-Gaupp, MD; Jessica McKinney, PT, DScPT, MS; Melanie Meister, MD; Kate Meriwether, MD; Ingrid Nygaard, MD; Megan Schimpf, MD; and Elisa Trowbridge, MD.


Thank you to these societies for their support!

Italian Association of Urogynecology (AIUG)

International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)

European Urogynaecological Association (EUGA)

Mediterranean Incontinence and Pelvic Floor Society (MIPS)

Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU)

Check out these latest resources from the American Urogynecologic Society.

The latest resources from the American Urogynecologic Society


The AUGS Career Center is the only FPMRS-specific job board. The AUGS Career Center take the guess work out of finding the right fit for both job seekers and employers. As a job seeker, you will be able to save your resume and set up job alerts. As an employer, you will have access to post, track engagement and search resumes that have been saved to the system.

Looking for a career in urogynecology? Check out the American Urogynecologic Society's career center for recent job listings.

American Urogynecologic Society's career center

This study aimed to assist practitioners in performing an accurate assessment of the external and internal pelvic musculoskeletal (MSK) systems to improve appropriate diagnosis and referral of patients with pelvic floor disorders or pelvic pain and to improve understanding of physical therapy (PT) treatment principles, thereby improving communication between practitioners and encouraging a multidisciplinary approach.

A referenced review of the anatomy of the pelvic floor muscles, pelvis, and surrounding structures, followed by a detailed assessment of anatomy, posture, and gait, is presented. A thorough description of PT assessment and treatment is included with clinical relevance.

When proper assessments are routinely performed, MSK conditions can be recognized, allowing for prompt and appropriate referrals to PT. Assessment and treatment by qualified physical therapists are integral to pelvic health care. After efficient medical assessment, MSK dysfunction can be addressed expeditiously, thereby avoiding further decline. Left unaddressed, pelvic dysfunction may become chronic.

We propose a guide for MSK assessment of the pelvis and associated structures that can be used for both clinical and research purposes. This guide is designed for health care providers caring for women with pelvic floor disorders, including physicians, advanced practice providers, and nurses. This guide serves to improve communication among multidisciplinary practitioners to refine MSK assessment and treatment approaches and thereby advance clinical care and research. Key Words: musculoskeletal system, pelvic floor, pelvic floor

Pelvic floor disorders (PFDs), including pelvic organ prolapse (POP), urinary and fecal incontinence, defecatory disorders (constipation), and pelvic pain, are difficult to completely and accurately diagnose without a comprehensive understanding of the musculoskeletal (MSK) components of the pelvis and the surrounding structures. Accurate assessment of the pelvic floor and associated conditions is further complicated by the interaction of multiple body systems within the pelvis; these include gynecologic, urologic, gastrointestinal, neurologic, rheumatologic, and endocrine systems.

Assessment of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function, however, is not routinely performed.

 Few medical health care providers perform a basic, let alone a comprehensive, intravaginal palpatory examination.

 Myofascial dysfunction is typically overlooked as a result of the lack of knowledge and adequate training.

 Because MSK dysfunction is rarely recognized or addressed, women suffer for extended periods without proper treatment.

 In a cross-sectional study, Sedighimehr et al

 found a higher frequency of pelvic MSK dysfunction in women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) (also known as persistent pelvic pain); the authors concluded that routine MSK examination should be included in an assessment of the pelvis. A recent literature review suggests that MSK examination by knowledgeable health care providers is essential for identifying MSK-associated dysfunction and ensuring appropriate referral to physical therapy (PT). Stein et al

 also recommend PT intervention for patients with CPP and sexual dysfunction as a noninvasive treatment option. It is equally important to properly assess the entire pelvic complex. Pelvic, hip, and back dysfunction can contribute to or mimic other disorders. The lack of knowledge of the MSK system in the pelvic region, coupled with methodological inconsistencies in assessment techniques, contributes to delayed or underused care. Appropriate management of patients presenting with PFD and CPP requires a comprehensive evaluation and treatment to ensure that patients receive proper care.

 Lack of consensus terminology and consistent research protocols lead to confusion and difficulty comparing outcomes. A narrative review performed by Harris-Hayes et al

 found that the lack of consistent and valid terms in the reviewed studies limited meaningful conclusions regarding the relationships of MSK dysfunction and CPP. This illustrates that there is a great need for standardization in both clinical and research environments to provide guidance in comprehensive, accurate, and comfortable MSK assessment.

Evidence that supports implementation of safe and comfortable pelvic MSK assessments by multidisciplinary medical practitioners is evolving.

 When proper assessments are routinely performed, MSK issues can be recognized, allowing for prompt and appropriate referrals for PT.

Assessments and interventions delivered by qualified physical therapists are integral components of overall pelvic health care. With more efficient and proper medical assessment, MSK dysfunction(s) can be addressed expeditiously, stopping the progression of decline. Left unaddressed, pelvic dysfunction has a much greater risk of becoming chronic. Improved recognition of pelvic and pelvic floor dysfunction by health care providers will reduce impairment and disability that often leads to pelvic floor pain.

 When practitioners use standardized assessments and terminology, communication will improve. This in turn will strengthen the interdisciplinary model and will continue to improve patient care, optimizing treatment outcomes.

 This publication serves as a guide for comprehensive pelvic floor assessment and provides a detailed description of evidence based PT treatment. Our goal is to encourage practitioners to perform comfortable, safe, and effective pelvic floor and associated system MSK examinations. This document describes baseline MSK assessment of the pelvis that can be used in clinical practice and research alike. This guide serves to open and improve communication among multidisciplinary practitioners. Evolving clinical care and research will help refine how the pelvic floor and pelvic region will be assessed and treated.

1. Rana N, Drake MJ, Rinko R, et al. The fundamentals of chronic pelvic pain assessment, based on International Continence Society recommendations. Neurourol Urodyn 2018;37:S32–S38. doi:10.1002/nau.23776.

2. Lamvu G, Carrillo J, Witzeman K, et al. Musculoskeletal considerations in female patients with chronic pelvic pain. Semin Reprod Med 2018;36(2): 107–115. doi:10.1055/s-0038-1676085.

3. Pastore EA, Katzman WB. Recognizing myofascial pelvic pain in the female patient with chronic pelvic pain. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2012;41(5):680–691. doi:10.1111/j.1552-6909.2012.01404.x.

4. Berghmans B. Physiotherapy for pelvic pain and female sexual dysfunction: an untapped resource. Int Urogynecol J 2018;29(5):631–638. doi:10.1007/s00192-017-3536.

5. Sedighimehr N, Manshadi FD, Shokouhi N, et al. Pelvic musculoskeletal dysfunctions in women with and without chronic pelvic pain. J Bodyw Mov Ther 2018;22(1):92–96. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2017.05.001.

6. Stein A, Sauder SK, Reale J. The role of physical therapy in sexual health in men and women: evaluation and treatment. Sex Med Rev 2019;7(1):46–56. doi:10.1016/j.sxmr.2018.09.003.

7. Grinberg K, Sela Y, Nissanholtz-Gannot R. New insights about chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020;17: 3005. doi:10.3390/1jjerph17043005.

8. Harris-Hayes M, Spitznagle T, Probst D, et al. A narrative review of musculoskeletal impairments associated with nonspecific chronic pelvic Pain. PM R 2019;Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S73–S82. doi:10>1002/pmrj.12209.

9. Sanses TVD, Chelimsky G, McCabe NP, et al. The pelvis and beyond: musculoskeletal tender points in women with chronic pelvic pain. Clin J Pain 2016;32(8):659–665. doi:10.1097/AJP.0000000000000307.

10. Meister MR, Shivakumar N, Sutcliffe S, et al. Physical examination techniques for the assessment of pelvic floor myofascial pain: a systematic review. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2018;219(5):497.e1–497.e13. doi:10.1016/ j.ajog.2018.06.014.

11. Prather H, Dugan S, Fitzgerald C, et al. Review of anatomy, evaluation, and treatment of musculoskeletal pelvic floor pain in women. PM R 2009; 1(4):346–358. doi:10.1016/j.pmrj.2009.01.003.

(Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg 2021;27: 711–718)

Click here to view the full-text article:

https://www.augs.org/assets/1/6/Assessment_of_the_Pelvic_Floor_and_Associated_2.pdf

The American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) published an executive summary on the pelvic floor and associated musculoskeletal system assessment.

AUGS executive summary: Assessment of the pelvic floor and associated musculoskeletal system

Urogynecology for the Advanced Practice Provider 2022


March 24-26, 2022 | New Orleans, LA/Virtual
Urogynecology for the Advanced Practice Provider 2022 will help you expand your knowledge of the latest treatments of female pelvic floor disorders and foster a greater understanding of the current evaluation and management options that exist in urogynecology today.


https://events.rdmobile.com/Events/Details/14649


June 14-18, 2022 | Austin, TX/Hybrid
The American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) and International Urogynecological Association (IUGA) 2022 Scientific Meeting will serve as the year’s largest venue for those in the field of urogynecology and Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery to come together for education, networking, and sharing.


Check out what events and programs the American Urogynecologic Society is hosting over the next several months.