Meet Dr. Gerten

Gerten Urogynecology

Dr. Gerten's Approach

"As a woman and a mother of four children I know how bladder and pelvic issues can affect our ability to be active and secure in our health. I want to help you uncover sensitive and embarrassing problems and find ways to alleviate symptoms. I love working together in a comprehensive and caring way to get you back to your life.

My favorite part of being a doctor is educating patients – really diving into a woman's whole life experience and presenting options while we determine a treatment plan together. I want my patients to learn and understand what is going on with their bodies and discuss available medical and surgical options.

As a female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery physician – a urogynecologist – I specialize in conditions that affect the bladder, the bowel, and the reproductive organs. Common conditions my patients present with include urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic discomfort, and sexual discomfort."

-Kim Gerten, MD, FACOG

Dr. Gerten's experiences

Volunteer Medical Trips to Nigeria and Liberia to help women with Vesico-vaginal fistulas and birth trauma

During these trips in July 2007 and May 2008, as part of a medical team from UAB, Dr. Gerten traveled to perform the repair of vesicovaginal fistulas in women who sustained bladder injury during childbirth. They also conducted a research study involving the women affected by this disorder, investigating prevention measures for this devastating condition.

Veteran's Administration Hospital Internship San Juan, Puerto Rico

During this summer internship, Dr. Gerten worked with a hospital pharmacist, a nursing home social worker, a geriatrician, and a clinical nurse specialist who acted as a liaison between floor nurses and the administration. She also polished her Spanish language skills, and, at the end of her stay she ran for her life from a level 4 hurricane.

Foreign Language Interpreter

At Durag, Inc. in Inver Grove Heights, Dr. Gerten worked as a foreign language interpreter by working on the Latin American Accounts, and managed the office.

Dr. Gerten's Publications

1. Ellington D, Szychowski J, Malek J, Gerten KA, Burgio K, Richter HE. Combined Tolterodine and vaginal estradiol cream for overactive bladder symptoms. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2016.
Gerten KA, Venkatesh S, Norman AM, Shu’Aibu J, Richter HE. Pilot Study Utilizing a Patient Educational Brochure at a Vesicovaginal Fistula Hospital in Nigeria, Africa. Intl Urogynecol J, 2009;20:33-37.
Chiang S, Gerten KA, Granieri E, Richter HE. Pharmacologic Management of the Older Woman Undergoing Surgery. Women’s Health 2009;5:205-19.
Bowling CB, Gerten KA, Chapman VR, Cliver SP, Neely CL, Burgio KL,Wheeler TL, Richter HE. Sphincter tears in primiparous women: Is age a factor? Int Urogynecol J2009;20:565-569.
Bowling CB, Greer WJ, Wheeler TL, Gerten KA, Varner RE, Richter HE. A Low Cost Cystoscopy Teaching Model. J Pel Med Surg2008;14:423-426.
Gerten KA, Markland AD, Lloyd LK, Richter HE. Prolapse and incontinence surgery in older women. J Urol. 2008 Jun;179(6):2111-8.
Kimball KJ, Gerten KA, Conner MG, Richter HE. Diffuse Endometritis in the Setting of Umbilical Endometriosis: A Case Report. J Reprod Med. 2008 Jan; 53(1): 49-51.
Gerten KA, Richter HE, Wheeler TL, Burgio KL, Pair LS, Redden DT, Hibner M. Intra-abdominal pressure changes associated with lifting: Implications for postoperative activity restrictions. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Mar;198(3):306.e1-5.
Norman AM, Gerten KA, Richter HE. A modified Mainz II pouch technique for management of refractory vesicovaginal fistulas: Patient focused outcomes. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2008 Apr;101(1):35-8.
Gerten KA, Richter HE, Burgio KL, Wheeler TL, Goode PS, Redden DT. The impact of urinary incontinence in morbidly obese women versus women seeking urogynecologic care. Urology. 2007 Dec; 70(6):1082-1085.
Gerten KA, Clemons JL. AUGS Fellows Literature Reviews, Jan-Feb 2007. Posted at http://www.augs.org on Nov 2, 2007.
Gerten KA, Richter HE. Pelvic Floor Surgery in the Older Woman. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Sep; 50(3):826-843.
Chiang A, Gerten KA, Miller KL. Optimizing outcomes of surgery in advanced age- perioperative factors to consider. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Sep; 50(3): 813-825.
Wheeler TL, Gerten KA, Richter HE, Duke AG, Varner RE. Outcomes of vaginal vault prolapse repair with a high uterosacral suspension procedure utilizing bilateral single sutures. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2007 Oct;18(10): 1207-13.
Bowling CB, Varner RE, Richter HE, Gerten KA, Wheeler TL. Modified LeFort Colpocleisis with puborectalis placation and perineorrhaphy for total pelvic procedentia. Journal of Pelvic Medicine and Surgery. Mar/Apr 2006; Vol 12, No. 2, pp.117.
Gerten KA, Coonrod DV, Bay RC, Chambliss LR. Cesarean delivery and respiratory distress syndrome: does labor make a difference? Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2005; 193(3):1061-1064.
Bowling CB, Gerten KA, Chapman VR, Cliver SP, Neely CL, Burgio KL, Wheeler TL, Richter HE. Sphincter Tears in Primiparous Women: Is Age a Factor? Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2008-11-05.
Munoz O, Bowling B, Gerten KA, Taryor R, Norman AM, Szychowski JM, Richter HE. Factors influencing post-operative short-term outcomes of vesico-vaginal fistula repairs in a community hospital in Nigeria. Br J Med Surg Urol 2011.