Interview with Dr. Uzma Chaudhry

Welcome to BeWhole Pelvic Physical Therapy, where Dr. Kavitha Paranjothi brings you expert insights into pelvic health. In this episode, Dr. Kavitha is joined by Dr. Uzma Chaudhry, MD in Urogynecology, for a conversation on the connection between urogynecology and pelvic floor physical therapy. With offices in Bensalem, PA and Hamilton, NJ, Dr. Chaudhry shares her approach to treating a wide range of pelvic floor conditions.

• Guest: Dr. Uzma Chaudhry, MD
• Credentials: MD, Urogynecology (Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery)
• Topic: Urogynecology and pelvic floor physical therapy
• Practice locations: 2966 Street Road, Bensalem, PA 19020 & 1725 Klockner Rd, Hamilton, NJ 08619

The Conversation

Dr. Chaudhry is a fellowship-trained gynecologist. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey at Cooper Hospital, where she served as chief resident, then completed a three-year fellowship in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery at Cooper Hospital. During her fellowship she was active in research, receiving grants and presenting at national conferences. She also serves as a clinical assistant professor at Jefferson University Hospital, working with medical students and residents.

Asked how she got into the field, Dr. Chaudhry pointed to a personal connection. "My mom had prolapse and urinary incontinence issues, and that's where the passion started," she said. "The kind of care she received, and not being met with as much empathy as she deserved within her own community and the health care field, prompted me to look into this and see what I could do." She noted that women often present very differently even at similar stages of the same condition, and that it isn't anyone's place to say one patient's symptoms matter less than another's. She was a second-year resident when her mentor, Dr. Carolyn Eccles, introduced her to urogynecology, and she has focused on the field ever since.

Asked what sets her practice apart, Dr. Chaudhry pointed to education. "Any time a patient walks in, I tell them, first, it's a no-judgment zone, and second, knowledge is power. My job is to make sure you leave my office with more information than you came in with." She spends time reviewing every question and concern with patients before laying out treatment options that range from expectant management to conservative management to surgery, and she emphasized building a personal relationship with each patient so they feel comfortable discussing concerns they might not otherwise bring up.

Dr. Chaudhry's specialties include pelvic organ prolapse, incontinence, and sexual dysfunction, and she said the mental health impact of these conditions is often underestimated. She recalled patients with urinary frequency and urgency who didn't realize that something as simple as coffee or an energy drink was contributing to their symptoms. "They don't have to take a medication or have surgery. Once they're aware of what's causing it, they can modify their lifestyle and either resolve the issue completely or see significant improvement." She described patient education as one of the most valuable tools she has.

Patients can reach the practice by phone or through its website. Dr. Chaudhry described the practice as very patient-oriented, available by phone, text, or email, and generally responding the same day or by the following morning, including weekends.

Dr. Chaudhry's main focus is pelvic organ prolapse, a weakening of the pelvic floor that causes a bulge at or past the vaginal opening, along with different types of urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, and interstitial cystitis. She noted that studies show it can take about two years and eight doctors before a patient is correctly diagnosed with interstitial cystitis, which is part of why she also spends time educating other providers through lectures. She also treats vaginal atrophy, bladder pain, and various forms of sexual dysfunction, including decreased libido.

She said it's especially rewarding to help a patient understand what is causing their chronic pain and then see that pain resolve, and just as rewarding to help patients with vaginal bulge through either expectant or surgical management. "I've been called a magician, for the vagina," she joked. "I want to change the world, one patient at a time."

Dr. Chaudhry closed by emphasizing that pelvic floor physical therapy plays a significant role in her patients' quality of life, and that meaningful outcomes come from a multidisciplinary approach rather than any one provider working alone. "It takes a village. It's not just what I offer, it's what we as a community in pelvic health can offer our patients together."