The Research & Development Committee has recently convened and have developed an on-line application tool for CSPM members to apply to be part of/develop a Canadian Pelvic Floor Research Network. All network members will have the opportunity to be actively involved in developing, implementing, conducting, and publishing research studies.

The Network's purpose is to enable clinicians and researchers to work together cooperatively and conduct multi-center research projects. We propose that this Research Network operates under the mentorship of the Research Committee. This Network is open to everyone, including junior faculty and fellows. Interested members are welcome to join. Please reach out if you have any questions.

The link to the application is:  https://survey.ucalgary.ca/jfe/form/SV_6o1a4zjDR46ivXv

Patients Seeking “Vaginoplasty” Deserve Assessment and Treatment by Experts in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery

Michael Chaikof, MD, FRCSC; Colleen D. McDermott, MSc, MD, FRCSC; Erin Brennand, MD, MSc, FRCSC; and May Sanaee, MD, FRCSC

We are a group of obstetrician-gynecologists with expertise in female pelvic floor medicine and reconstructive surgery (FPMRS), and we write to you in response to your recent publication of “Posterior Vaginoplasty With Perineoplasty: A Canadian Experience With Vaginal Tightening Surgery” by Austin et al.1 We are concerned that the depiction of vaginoplasty and perineoplasty in this paper does not represent the gold standard of pelvic floor medicine that patients deserve. Furthermore, the attitudes underlying this article undermine women’s healthcare providers and emphasize unjust influences on the healthcare system.

Continue reading here

We are excited to announce the new CSPM Journal Club! The first meeting – including a wine recommendation and virtual tasting event – is sponsored by the University of British Columbia.  

"The prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI), and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) increases in association with age. Data from Canada were last obtained in 2008 in the Canadian Urinary Bladder Survey, the first cross-sectional Canada wide epidemiological study to determine prevalence and severity of UI and LUTS in men and women. Despite the high prevalence of IU/LUTS, few people view their symptoms as a problem or burden and fewer still express a felt need for help. In the Leicestershire MRC incontinence study only 2% of respondents reported symptoms which were bothersome and also socially disabling. The majority viewed their synmptoms as a minor inconvenience, althought many more of those over 80 years of age reported bothersome symptoms compared to those aged in their 40s, with 15.3% versus 1.6% respectively reporting felt need. The aim of this study, in a nationally representative sample, was to update current data on the prevalence of UI, examine felt need for care, the extent to which these conditions are felt to be "taboo" and the experience of care, where saught."

Read the full study here.

CSPM releases this CSPM MUS Bulletin in response to the June 2020 CMQ rapport d’enquête entitled Les complications liées à la mise en place d’une bandelette sous-urétrale. This report is the latest effort by a regulatory body to address complications related to mesh-based surgery for pelvic floor disorders, but is not unique as similar mandates have been previously enacted in Australia, Scotland, Britain, and the US. All of these regulatory efforts are driven by distraught patients who cannot find providers to manage their complications. Within Canada, these patients are also vulnerable to profit driven “experts” in the US that take advantage of their misery and lack of alternatives, while bankrupting provincial service plans. As the premier Canadian organization in the field of pelvic medicine, CSPM has a responsibility to address this care gap. The responsibility is not just to patients, but also to providers that manage these complications, as a failure to provide care for these women, will lead to further restriction on surgical choices. Again, please read CSPM's response HERE.

Evaluation of a Mayo Scissor as a suburethral spacer compared with a Babcock clamp holding a loop of tape under the urethra results in different rates of abnormal bladder outcomes 12 months after retropubic midurethral sling surgery. Information about how the postoperative courses differ, allows surgeons to better counsel patients preoperatively or tailor their choice of technique. Read More...

As a point of information, The Canadian Society for Pelvic Medicine wants our members and other stakeholders to be aware of the following report released in June 2020 entitled: Les complications liées à la mise en place d’une bandelette sous-urétrale. We are working on a bilingual response, providing important information related to this subject and will be identifying Canadian Centres that will see patients with mesh complications. Stay tuned for more information in the coming days!

The World Federation of Incontinence and Pelvic Problems (WFIPP) will be updating the WCW 2020 page daily, so make sure to check back each day for new activities and content!

Click here for more information

In recognition of Pelvic Organ Prolapse Month, CSPM would like to share some resources with you through our affiliation with the International Urogynecological Association (IUGA).

Resource Sheet: https://www.yourpelvicfloor.org/media/2019-06-pop-awareness-FV-1.pdf

Patient Information Page: https://www.yourpelvicfloor.org/conditions/pelvic-organ-prolapse/ *available in multiple languages including English and French

Take advantage of these resources in support of our mission to promote excellence in care, education and research, advocating for better health for those affected by pelvic floor disorders.

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for submitting your abstracts to the annual CSPM meeting.

Unfortunately, we were not able to hold the April 18, 2020 annual CSPM meeting due to COVID-19 restrictions. We recognize the effort put into your research work and we have proceeded with judging the submitted abstracts. Abstracts were anonymized and reviewed by 4 independent reviewers who did not submit an abstract to the meeting: 2 local and 2 external reviewers.

The top 5 abstracts were to be presented at the meeting but now instead have been posted on the CSPM website.

The coronavirus pandemic has been a challenge for all of us, including patients who are now left wondering if or when it will be safe to resume scheduling face-to-face appointments. The pandemic has resulted in an increase in the use of telemedicine, and to that end, we are sharing a list of CSPM members who are conducting virtual appointments with patients via telemedicine.

The full list can be viewed here.

If you are CSPM member and interested in being included on this list, please email your information to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..