Evaluation & Diagnosis

Comprehensive Diagnosis & Evaluation of Your Pelvic Disorders

Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring and Holy Cross Hospital in Germantown’s pelvic health program is designed with the personalized needs of our patients in mind. Restoring your pelvic health and your quality of life is top priority for Holy Cross Health’s pelvic floor team.

Through diagnostic testing and evaluation our specialists work with you to create an individualized care plan to address your pelvic dysfunction. Diagnostic tests that may be performed by your doctor for pelvic floor disorders include:

• Cystoscopy, a bladder study that utilizes a small cystoscope to look inside the bladder and urethra, examine the bladder lining and identify inflammation or obstructions. This study can be performed in your physician's office or at our hospitals.
• MRI and ultrasound, available through Holy Cross Health.
• Anal Manometry – A special balloon is inserted into the rectum to test the muscles that control the bowels. Anorectal manometry, available through the physician's office, is a test performed to evaluate patients with constipation or fecal incontinence.
• Anoscopy — an examination using a small, rigid, tubular instrument called an anoscope, to evaluate problems of the anal canal. This procedure is performed in your physician's office.
• Defecography (or Defecogram) - This special x-ray study that shows the rectum and anal canal during a bowel movement is available through the physician's office. It allows the doctor to visualize what occurs as you empty your rectum.
• Physiological studies to identify nerve damage in the pelvic organs are performed in a physician's office.