The invention relate to the demonstration herein that it is feasible to use a transvaginal NIRS probe to interrogate functioning urological tissues, such as the urethral sphincter, the bladder detrusor muscle, and pelvic floor musculature, to obtain clinically relevant information. The present invention accordingly provides methods and devices for transvaginal monitoring or imaging of the urological tissues, such as the urethral sphincter and/or the bladder, and/or pelvic floor musculature, using NIRS.