About me
Lee Ann Richter, MD, is a board-certified female urologist with the MedStar National Center for Advanced Pelvic Surgery. She also serves as Associate Professor of Urology and Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University School of Medicine. Dr. Richter is one of the few urologists in the country with obstetrics and gynecology-based fellowship training in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery (urogynecology). Her sub-specialty training and surgical background make her uniquely qualified to offer a multidisciplinary perspective of complex pelvic floor conditions.
She treats all female urology and urogynecologic issues--no matter how complex--, including pelvic organ prolapse, urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic floor disorders, urinary fistula, hematuria, urethral stricture and diverticulum, and interstitial cystitis. She provides a wide range of treatment options that include behavioral intervention, medical therapies, and surgery. Dr. Richter has extensive training in minimally-invasive surgical techniques, including vaginal, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted surgery.
Dr. Richter received her medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. She then joined MedStar Georgetown University Hospital for a general surgery residency, a four-year urology residency, and a two-year sub-specialty fellowship in female pelvic medicine & reconstructive surgery at the National Center for Advanced Pelvic Surgery. She is a member of the Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction; the American Urogynecologic Society; and the American Urologic Society.
In addition to her work in Washington, D.C., she travels yearly to Rwanda with the International Organization for Women and Development to perform fistula surgeries for women who suffer from this debilitating condition. In addition to her work in the field, she also serves on the medical advisory board for this organization.
Dr. Richter has an extensive research background, and has received numerous grants for her research initiatives. She frequently lectures on urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse on a national level, and has been recognized for her research, presenting regularly at national scientific meetings. She was named a Fellow of the NIH/NICHD-funded AUGS/DUKE Urogynecology Clinical Research Educational Scientist Training program in 2019 and was also recognized for her dedication to student education when she was named as a Teaching Scholar at MedStar Washington Hospital Center from 2015 to 2017.
Philosophy of Care
"Pelvic floor conditions are incredibly common and unfortunately not often discussed. Urogynecology allows me the privilege to provide treatment that greatly improves quality of life for women. I don’t just see myself as a provider, but as an advocate for women with these conditions.
“During my urology training, I recognized that women feel very comfortable seeking care from other women for sensitive issues. As a woman, I appreciate and understand how bothersome conditions of the pelvic floor can be and how they can impact quality of life. There are so many successful treatment options for pelvic floor conditions, including urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. What I value about my time with my patients is being able to listen to each woman’s concerns, to validate her symptoms and how she feels, and to work together to find the right solution.
“It’s a privilege to provide treatment that focuses on improving quality of life. Helping women achieve their health goals is the most rewarding aspect of my job.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Bladder Prolapse
- Hematuria
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Lichen Sclerosus
- Mesh Removal
- Overactive Bladder
- Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
- Pelvic Floor Pain
- Prolapse Of Urethra
- Rectocele
- Sling Procedure
- Urinary Incontinence
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Bladder Fistula
- Bladder Prolapse
- Bladder Uterine Fistula
- Cancer Related Sexual Concerns
- Colovaginal Fistula
- Complete Uterovaginal Prolapse
- Constipation
- Continuous Leakage Of Urine
- Cystocele
- Cystodynia
- Decreased Libido
- Detrusor Instability
- Dyspareunia
- Dysuria
- Enterocele
- Enterovaginal Fistula
- Enuresis
- Fecal Incontinence
- Female Sexual Dysfunction
- Female Urinary Incontinence
- Frequent Urinary Tract Infections
- Functional Incontinence
- Hematuria
- Incompetence Of Pubocervical Tissue
- Incompetence Of Rectovaginal Tissue
- Incomplete Emptying Of Bladder
- Incomplete Uterovaginal Prolapse
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Intrinsic Sphincter Deficiency
- Labial Hypertrophy
- Levator Myalgia
- Lichen Sclerosus
- Microscopic Hematuria
- Mixed Incontinence
- Neurogenic Urinary Bladder
- Nocturia
- Overactive Bladder
- Overflow Incontinence Of Urine
- Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
- Pelvic Floor Pain
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Pelvic Pain
- Perineocele
- Polyuria
- Postmenopausal Bleeding
- Prolapse Of Urethra
- Prolapse Of Vaginal Vault After Hysterectomy
- Rectocele
- Rectourethral Fistula
- Rectovaginal Fistula
- Sexual Dysfunction
- Stress Incontinence
- Third Degree Uterine Prolapse
- Transverse Vaginal Septum
- Ureteric Fistula
- Urethral Caruncle
- Urethral Diverticulum
- Urethral False Passage
- Urethral Fistula
- Urethral Hypermobility
- Urethral Instability
- Urethral Stricture
- Urethritis
- Urethrocele
- Urethrovaginal Fistula
- Urge Incontinence
- Urinary Incontinence
- Urinary Retention
- Urinary Tract Fistula
- Urinary Tract Injury
- Uterine Prolapse
- Vaginal Fistula
- Vaginal Mesh Implant Complications
- Vaginal Prolapse
- Vesicocutaneous Fistula
- Vesicovaginal Fistula
- Vulvodynia
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Sacrocolpopexy
- Anterior Posterior Repair
- Anterior Repair
- Bladder Surgery
- Bladder Suspension
- Bladder Training
- Closure Urethrovaginal Fistula
- Colpocleisis
- Colpopexy
- Colporrhaphy
- Colposuspension
- Cystoscopy
- Female Genitourinary Reconstruction
- Hysterectomy
- Interstim
- Labial Reduction
- Labiaplasty
- Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
- Laparoscopic Sacrocolpopexy
- Laparoscopic Salpingo Oophorectomy
- Laparoscopic Urethral Suspension
- Laparoscopy Ureteroneocystostomy
- Mesh Removal
- Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery
- Neobladder Construction
- Obliteration Of Vaginal Vault
- Partial Hysterectomy
- Pelvic Floor Exercise
- Pelvic Reconstruction
- Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS)
- Perineorrhaphy
- Periurethral Suspension
- Pessary
- Plastic Repair Of Urethrocele
- Pop Q Exam
- Posterior Repair
- Reconstruction Of Urethra
- Reconstruction Of Vagina
- Repair Of Colovaginal Fistula
- Repair Of Cystocele
- Repair Of Enterocele
- Repair Of Pelvic Prolapse
- Repair Of Rectocele
- Repair Of Rectovaginal Fistula
- Repair Of Urinary Stress Incontinence
- Repair Of Vaginal Tear
- Robotic Gynecological Surgery
- Robotic Sacrocolpopexy
- Scheduled Voiding
- Sling Procedure
- Tension-Free Vaginal Tape
- Transurethral Cystoscopy
- Urethral Bulking Injection
- Urethrocystopexy
- Urethromeatoplasty
- Urethropexy
- Urinary Bladder Reconstruction
- Urodynamics
- Uroflowmetry
- Uterine Surgery
- Vaginal Hysterectomy
- Vaginal Surgery
- Vaginal Suspension
- Vaginoplasty
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO, GEHA, Compass Rose)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans/ UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans HMO, POS, PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select (aka Senior Advantage)
- Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv/Special Needs Plans
- UHC Community Plan of MD
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Medicare Fee for Service
- Kaiser Virginia Premier
- Kaiser PermanenteSelect-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS
- Kaiser MD Medicaid MCO
- CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- CFBCBS EPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Choice Fund PPO
- CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO
- Open POS II
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Network OA
- PPO and PPO Plus
- Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
- POS OA & OA Plus
- CIGNA EPO
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- CIGNA HMO Open Access (OA)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Innovation Health: POS
- Innovation Health: PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Opoen HMO Option
- Open HMO
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- United Student Resources
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO
- MedStar Select (MedStar Associates' Plan)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Tricare Prime
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- FIRST HEALTH
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Urology, Urology
Board Certification: American Board of Urology, Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery
Fellowship Program: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2015)
Residency Program: MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (2013)
Internship Program: MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (2009)
Medical School: University of Connecticut- School of Medicine (2008)
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
BLOG: How to find relief from urinary incontinence.
A complete list of publications by Lee A. Richter, MD:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=lee+a+richter