Healthcare Disparities in the Treatment of Pelvic Floor Disorders

Purpose of Review: Pelvic floor disorders (PFD) include urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, fecal incontinence and other storage and emptying abnormalities. These disorders are common among women and are significantly undertreated. Healthcare disparities may partly explain this phenomenon. Recent Findings: Disparities in the treatment of urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and fecal incontinence can be stratified by race, age, and socioeconomic status. Race is often closely intertwined with socioeconomic status, access to care, and mistrust of healthcare providers. Overall, the etiology of disparities in treatment of PFD is multifactorial and complex. Summary: Normalization and removing the stigma of pelvic floor disorders, using better metrics for screening, and increasing the diversity in studies that assess pelvic floor disorders may reduce healthcare disparities in treatment, leading to improved care for common and treatable pelvic floor conditions.