Cherrilyn Richmond, MS, WHNP (BC)

Cherrilyn Richmond, MS, WHNP-BC (women’s health nurse practitioner), specializes in pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation, with electrical stimulation, behavioral modification, pessary fitting, and urodynamic procedures for pelvic floor relaxation and urinary incontinence.

She treats patients with various urogynecologic and gynecologic conditions including pelvic floor dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse (POP), overactive bladder, and female urinary incontinence.

“I love taking care of all women from teenagers to the elderly,” she says. “And I enjoy getting to know my patients and being able to help them without invasive treatments. The pelvic area is very private and it’s a touchy subject. Women are sometimes in tears because they are embarrassed and can’t believe these problems are happening to them. It can interfere with marriages, relationships, and sexual activity.”

Richmond says it is her priority to make women as comfortable as possible. “I tell them I have been through this. I have kids, too, and know that this can be uncomfortable. I will do my best to either alleviate or resolve the problem,” she says. “And for patients who come in because of urinary leakage or pelvic organ prolapse, I can put in a pessary, a silicone device inserted into the vagina, and they see improvement right away.”

That, Richmond says, is extremely gratifying. “They may have decrease or no pain or discomfort since the prolapse is reduced or they can cough, laugh, sneeze or exercise without any urinary leakage,” she says. “With pelvic floor therapy women learn the correct kegel technique so that they can control their bladder instead of the bladder controlling them.”

Outside of practice, Richmond volunteers with the Yale Global Urogynecology Initiative (UGHI). The project focuses on pelvic floor dysfunction and vaginal surgery education and training for Dominican and Yale Ob/Gyn and urology residents through workshops, patient evaluations, and surgeries for underserved, low-income women in the Dominican Republic.

She has received the OB/GYN Lee Buxton Award, the National Collegiate Nursing Award (NCNA), the Empire Minority Honor Scholarship, and the Chi Eta Phi Mentor Program Award. She is a member of the American Urogynecological Society and National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health.