Published on May. 1, 2026
Pelvic health conditions – ranging from bladder urgency and pelvic floor disorders to complex gynecologic conditions like endometriosis – affect millions of women. Yet symptoms are often dismissed as “normal,” or just a part of a woman’s body.
MemorialCare’s Center for Pelvic Health brings a diverse group of specialists together to ensure no part of a woman’s healthcare need is overlooked. MemorialCare’s team includes colorectal surgeons, gastroenterologists, gynecologic oncologists, gynecologic surgeons, maternal fetal medicine specialists, OB GYNs, pelvic floor physical therapists, urogynecologists and urologists. By bringing these specialists together under one coordinated program, patients get the expertise of up to 10 different experts, allowing complex pelvic conditions to be evaluated and treated more efficiently and collaboratively – resulting in improved outcomes.
Pelvic floor disorders affect women at many stages of life and are often associated with pregnancy, childbirth and physical changes over time. These conditions involve the muscles, ligaments and connective tissue that support the pelvic organs and play a critical role in bladder, bowel, and pelvic function.
“Many women don’t realize that symptoms like urinary leakage, pelvic pressure or bowel changes after pregnancy are signs of treatable pelvic floor conditions,” said Lena Nguyen, D.O., OB‑GYN, Orange Coast Medical Center. “These issues are common, but they are not something women simply have to live with. Early evaluation can make a meaningful difference in long‑term function and quality of life.”
The Center for Pelvic Health offers a holistic approach that begins with conservative interventions. These may include pelvic floor therapy, lifestyle modifications, medical management, and key lifestyle and hormonal factors.
“Women’s health care needs have been overlooked for far too long. Certain pelvic health conditions can be treated with pelvic floor exercises with a licensed pelvic floor therapist. We identify what drives symptoms, and tailor treatments based on each patient’s wants and needs.”
- Poone Shoureshi, M.D., urogynecologist, Saddleback Medical Center
Pelvic health conditions rarely exist in isolation, and for some patients, symptoms are driven by underlying gynecologic disease rather than hormonal changes – often in younger women.
Endometriosis is a condition when the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causing pelvic pain, heavy periods, and sometimes, infertility. About 70% of women report experiencing symptoms in their 20s and about 50% of women have difficulty conceiving. Historically, women were dismissed that it was menstrual pain.
The Center for Pelvic Health at Long Beach Medical Center offers an advanced minimally invasive surgical procedure called laparoscopic excision of endometriosis.
“Laparoscopic excision allows us to completely remove the endometriosis lesions through minimally invasive robotic surgery,” said Mallory Stuparich, M.D., board-certified gynecologist, fellowship-trained endometriosis surgeon, Center for Pelvic Health, Long Beach Medical Center. “Benefits include precise removal of lesions, reduced inflammation, and potential fertility improvement.”
MemorialCare has a long history of women uplifting women, with leaders and clinicians focused on advancing women’s health. From common to complex procedures, women can access advanced care close to home, with advanced techniques typically only found in academic settings.