Centers for Continence Care and Female Urology
The Centers for Continence Care (CCC) and Female Urology are the hub for the care of men and women with urinary incontinence, or leakage of urine, and voiding dysfunction, including urinary urgency, frequency, or inability to empty the bladder. The CCC offers specialized testing of bladder function, called "urodynamics," and conservative management for various conditions, including behavioral interventions, pelvic floor muscle exercises, biofeedback, and other forms of patient education and guidance. We strive to provide a comfortable, relaxed environment where patients are put at ease, and personal dignity is maintained. The CCC is all about education and reinforcement of patient goals. We know that requires time, patience and repetition, and that is where our staff excels. Many physicians from outside of Metro Urology recognize the value of the specialized services offered through our Center for Continence Care, and refer their patients to us for sophisticated diagnostic testing and innovative treatment options.
The Center for Continence Care and Female Urology Physicians
Urologists are generally believed to care for men's conditions, however urologists are trained to take care of both men and women. Physicians who specialize in female urology focus on problems of the pelvic and urinary organs that are unique to women and generally have specialty training beyond that of a general urologist. Typically female urologic problems include urinary incontinence, or leakage of urine; voiding dysfunction, such as urinary urgency, frequency and/or inability to empty the bladder; and pelvic organ prolapse, or hernias called "cystocele", "rectocele", "entrocele", or "porcidentia". Other problems for which women seek urologic care include pelvic pain and female sexual dysfunction. By having sub-specialists that concentrate their work on these types of problems Metro Urology hopes to give our patients with female urologic disorders the very best level of care available.
We invite you to learn more about the dedicated physicians of Metro Urology's Centers for Continence Care and Female Urology below.
Dr. Steven Siegel
Dr. Siegel is the Director of the Center for Continence Care (CCC). He established this center of excellence after moving to Minnesota in 1993. Previously, he was the Head of the Section of Female Urology and Urodynamics at the Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland Ohio. He graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, and completed his urology residency at the Cleveland Clinic in 1986. Dr. Siegel is internationally recognized for his work related to urinary incontinence and voiding dysfunction. He is responsible for training urologists and gynecologists throughout the nation in specialized techniques, and continues to actively participate in the education of fellows and residents, lectures, clinical research, and publication in medical journals.
"No one needs to convince me that incontinence and voiding dysfunction are important problems - I've devoted my career to helping patients overcome them. A stepwise approach is appropriate for most conditions. The first step is to optimize the conservative, or non-surgical options. Many patients are surprised that these are available, and may even be the best choice for them. If those don't result in enough improvement, then surgery can be considered as a next step. Patients almost always have more than one option. I want to partner with them to find the safest approach that leads to a happy outcome."
Dr. Suzette Sutherland
Metro Urology is pleased to announce the addition of Suzette E. Sutherland, MD. Dr. Sutherland joined the group on August 30, 2004. She completed her medical degree and urologic training at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine / University Hospital of Cleveland in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Sutherland has gained further specialty training in female urology to include urinary incontinence and voiding dysfunction, urodynamics, neuromodulation, pelvic prolapse and reconstructive surgery, and female sexual dysfunction from the Center for Continence Care in St. Paul, MN, under the direction of Drs. Steven Siegel, Aaron Kirkemo and Jyothi Kesha, and from the Institute for Sexual Medicine in Boston, MA, with Dr. Irwin Goldstein. She has made contributions to the medical literature in the form of presentations, papers and book chapters on incontinence, pelvic prolapse and sexual dysfunction, and remains active in associated clinical research in order to provide her patients with innovative, up-to-date options for treatment.
Dr. Ann Lavers
Dr. Lavers joined Metro Urology in October of 2006. She completed her Urology residency at the University of Minnesota, and then did a one-year fellowship in Female Urology and Voiding Dysfunction under the direction of Dr. Steven Siegel, Dr. Jyothi (Jodi) Kesha, and Dr. Suzette Sutherland. Dr. Lavers actively participates in clinical research and has made contributions to medical literature in the forms of presentations, papers and book chapters