KU Center for Urogynecology and Female Pelvic Medicine

“Partnership is a perfect word to describe my relationship with patients. I focus on what their desires are and work with them to make the right decisions. My approach may take extra time, but it yields much more effective outcomes in my patients’ quality of life.”

When it comes to bladder and pelvic floor disorders, the KU Center for Urogynecology and Female Pelvic Medicine offers a team approach to meeting the health care needs of women. These disorders are most common at or after menopause and include the leakage of urine or stool, prolapse of the vaginal structures, bladder pain and associated sexual pain or dysfunction. There is a growing need to provide subspecialty care for these complex disorders as the baby-boomer generation enters menopause.

Dr. Melissa Huggins, the newest member of the KU Center for Urogynecology and Female Pelvic Medicine, is just the person to help meet that need. Dr. Huggins’ journey began at the University of Kansas when she received her medical doctorate degree in 1998. She continued her preparation by moving to California where she completed a four-year residency and a three-year fellowship training in urogynecology under the direction of Dr. Donald Ostergard, an internationally recognized physician at the forefront of developing the subspecialty of female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Huggins became board certified in obstetrics and gynecology in 2008. Over the past nine years since completing her residency, she has gained essential experience in providing specialized care for women in both private and academic practices.
Dr. Huggins returned home to KU as an assistant professor this past summer when she joined Dr. Dani Zoorob, director of the KU Center for Urogynecology and Female Pelvic Medicine. Their combination of credentials and experience coupled with advanced fellowship training in urogynecology will make the center a leader in the treatment of pelvic floor disorders. “Together, we are growing in a direction that supports a standard of excellence in female reconstructive surgery and minimally invasive treatment options. We are dedicated to bringing state-of-the-art care to Kansas City,” stated Dr. Huggins.

Dr. Huggins has cared for many women referred to her after having unsuccessful pelvic floor surgery, causing their incontinence to worsen or be replaced with new pain. She explains that poor surgical outcomes are more common when surgeons have not had the detailed training and experience diagnosing and operating on complex pelvic floor disorders that comes only with fellowship training. “The three years I spent in fellowship not only taught me how to expertly perform procedures, but also who might benefit from surgery and who will not,” she added.
Dr. Huggins’ fellowship training and subsequent experience in the subspecialty has made her proficient in the treatment of urinary incontinence and voiding dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse, bladder pain syndromes and fecal incontinence. She focuses on first identifying an accurate diagnosis of the problem, then educating her patients on all relevant options, both surgical and non-surgical, to functionally improve their quality of life. She is committed to restoring a woman’s pelvic health, which may include trials of physical therapy or utilizing other methods such as biofeedback, medication or bladder Botox® before moving on to surgical treatments.

“We do have options to treat pelvic floor problems, and patients deserve to know what they are and to decide what they want. It’s amazing how often conservative treatment works,” noted Dr. Huggins. “I provide patients with many innovative therapies because the key to satisfaction is the patient’s making informed decisions. I strive to empower my patients. Partnership is a perfect word to describe my relationship with patients. I focus on what their desires are and work with them to make the right decisions. My approach may take extra time, but it yields much more effective outcomes in my patients’ quality of life.”

About 25 percent of the women in the U.S. are affected by pelvic floor disorders brought on by aging and changes sometimes associated with childbirth. Although women may find these issues uncomfortable to discuss with their healthcare providers, they are not uncommon and are treatable. “I was a surgical patient before I became a doctor and I strive to treat my patients as I would want to be treated. I believe that if my patients are not educated, they cannot make good decisions,” remarked Dr. Huggins. “I support the choice women have in making decisions about their healthcare.”

Not only is there a powerful partnership between Dr. Huggins and her patients, she is quick to point out that women attending the KU Center for Urogynecology and Female Pelvic Medicine may receive world-class care in other women’s subspecialty areas as well. When she accepted her new position, she was impressed that the University of Kansas Hospital was one of a select few top 50 hospitals that had all 12 out of the 12 adult medical and surgical specialty areas ranked in the top 50 by the 2014-15 Best Hospitals list in U.S. News & World Report. She explained, “I wanted to be a part of a national leader in healthcare excellence.”

For more information, please visit kumc.edu/obgyn or call 913-588-6200.