Newswise — NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – It’s a subject that many women may find embarrassing and avoid discussing—even with their doctors. Maybe they’ll start crossing their legs when they feel a cough or sneeze coming on, to try to prevent an “accident.” Or perhaps they’re experiencing some unexplained pain or discomfort in the pelvic area. And just what are Kegels anyway?

Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital will host an educational event Nov. 13 as part of a public awareness campaign to help women impacted by pelvic floor disorders (PFDs). Ranging from the mild to the more severe, pelvic floor disorders comprise a variety of gynecologic and bladder conditions that include incontinence, a continuous urge to urinate (interstitial cystitis), painful bladder conditions and pelvic organ prolapse.

“Take the Floor Tonight: ‘Break Free’ from Pelvic Floor Disorders” will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Arline and Henry Schwartzman Courtyard at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH), One Robert Wood Johnson Place, New Brunswick. Topics will include expert advice about signs, symptoms and treatment options for these distressing conditions; demonstrations of quick and easy exercises and tips to strengthen the pelvic floor; and anecdotes from women who have overcome a pelvic floor disorder and regained their quality of life.

“Topics like urinary incontinence often don’t get discussed, but the problem is much more common than people realize,” says urogynecologist Dr. Saya Segal, assistant professor of urology and obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. “In fact, pelvic floor disorders affect about one in three women at some point in their lives. And while many women may view these problems as a part of the normal aging process that simply can’t be cured, that fortunately isn’t the case. With this event, we’re hoping to get people talking, and let women know what they can do to improve their quality of life.”

“Because of embarrassment or unawareness of treatment options, many women with pelvic floor disorders may suffer in silence. Our goal is to minimize any discomfort around having conversations about and seeking treatment for these conditions that negatively affect quality of life,” adds Dr. Juana Hutchinson-Colas, chief of the division of female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery at the medical school. Dr. Hutchinson-Colas, who also is the RWJUH chief of gynecology, with Dr. Segal and urologist Dr. Hari Tunuguntla, associate professor of urology, will present an expert panel at the event, which is co-sponsored by the medical school’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, and Division of Urology.

Obstetrician/gynecologists and urologists from the medical school also will be on hand throughout the evening to answer any questions about pelvic floor problems or other related services. In addition to the opportunity for discussion, refreshments will be served.

This event is part of a campaign launched this fall by the PFD Alliance, which issued new research showing nine out of 10 Americans underestimate or are unsure about the prevalence of these conditions. The “Break Free from PFDs” campaign aims to help women understand the facts about pelvic floor disorders and empower them with information on how to pursue individualized solutions for improved quality of life.

Online registration for “Take the Floor Tonight” is available at www.breakfreefrompfds.org/events. For more information, contact Nithalina Duncan at 732-235-7755.

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About Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolAs one of the nation's leading comprehensive medical schools, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in education, research, health care delivery, and the promotion of community health. Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, the medical school's principal affiliate, comprise one of the nation's premier academic medical centers. In addition, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School has 34 other hospital affiliates and ambulatory care sites throughout the region.

Part of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School encompasses 20 basic science and clinical departments, hosts centers and institutes including The Cardiovascular Institute, the Child Health Institute of New Jersey, the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, and the Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey. The medical school maintains educational programs at the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels on its campuses in New Brunswick and Piscataway and provides continuing education courses for health care professionals and community education programs. To learn more about Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, visit rwjms.rutgers.edu or interact via social media at www.facebook.com/RWJMedicalSchool and www.twitter.com/RWJMS.

About Robert Wood Johnson University HospitalRobert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) is a 965-bed hospital with campuses in New Brunswick and Somerville, offering Central New Jersey residents expanded access to the highest quality medical services and a wider array of innovative therapies available at only a small number of elite academic medical centers nationwide. RWJUH’s New Brunswick and Somerset campuses now serve as the flagship hospital of Robert Wood Johnson Health System, New Jersey’s premier health system of choice, which currently has $1.5 billion in revenue, approximately 10,300 employees, 3,250 medical staff members, and 1,733 beds.

RWJUH New Brunswick is the flagship Cancer Hospital of Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and the principal hospital of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Its Centers of Excellence include cardiovascular care, from minimally invasive heart surgery to transplantation; cancer care; and women’s and children’s care, including The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. The hospital is also a Level 1 Trauma Center and serves as a national resource in its groundbreaking approaches to emergency preparedness. RWJUH Somerset provides comprehensive health care services to residents throughout Central New Jersey. Its Steeplechase Cancer Center is designated as a Comprehensive Community Cancer Center by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer, it is a Joint Commission- and state-designated Primary Stroke Center, and The Joint Surgery Institute at RWJUH Somerset has earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for total knee and total hip replacement surgery. For more information about Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, visit www.rwjuh.edu. About PFD AllianceThe PFD Alliance was created in September 2011 to bring together the expertise and resources of various partners across advocacy, professional medical organizations, health providers and scientific discovery corporations to increase awareness of PFDs and the non-surgical and surgical treatment options of female pelvic floor disorders. The founding members of the PFD Alliance include the American Urogynecologic Society, The Foundation for Female Health Awareness, Boston Scientific Corporation and Merck Consumer Care. All Alliance members are working from a shared vision to improve the quality of life for women through education and access to a comprehensive list of treatment options so that women with a PFD may develop an individualized treatment plan to meet their needs. For more information, visit www.voicesforpfd.org/BreakFree.