Understanding Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore

Common signs of pelvic floor dysfunction, it’s causes, and the importance of seeking help from a pelvic floor physical therapist

What is the pelvic floor? 

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that help maintain control of the bowels and bladder, allowing you to hold back urine and poop and evacuate when appropriate. The pelvic floor muscles also support the bladder, rectum, uterus, and vaginal wall in women and the bladder, rectum, penis, and testicles in men. In addition, the pelvic muscles help support healthy sexual function by sustaining clitoral or penial erections and eventually contracting during orgasm. Lastly, the pelvic floor is vital to supporting the core  as the muscular base of our body. It absorbs pressure from coughing, lifting, jumping, walking, bending and thus supports the spine and organs.  

Here's a short video on the anatomy of the pelvic floor:

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction has affected almost 50% of the female population at some point in their lifetime. While only 16% of men have been diagnosed with pelvic floor dysfunction, it’s likely that many more are struggling but not seeking out care. 

Signs of possible pelvic floor dysfunction include:

1. Pelvic pain in the genitals or rectum

2. Straining or pushing to pass urine or to have a bowel movement

3. Excessive bathroom visits (>8 times a day)

4. Difficulty holding back urine or stool 

5. Constipation

6. Leaking urine

7. Leaking Stool

8. Pain while urinating

9. Persistent low back, hip, groin, tailbone, or abdominal pain

10. Erectile Dysfunction- inability to sustain an erection for intercourse 

11. Orgasmic Difficulty- inability to sustain a clitoral erection or loss of sensation with intercourse

12. Painful sex

13. Pain or discomfort in one or both of the testicles

14. Pelvic Heaviness (the feeling of bulging vaginally or rectally)

15. Difficulty Inserting a Tampon

    
    

Common causes of pelvic floor dysfunction include:

1. Traumatic injuries to your pelvic area (i.e. falling on your tailbone,  car accidents, falls from high places)

2. Abdominal/pelvic surgeries (hernia repairs, hysterectomy, prostatectomies, etc)

3. Pregnancy and childbirth (this occurs more often with difficult deliveries but can happen to anyone, even in young and healthy women)

4. Overusing your pelvic muscles (straining your muscles to go to the bathroom)

5. Aging (especially during or after menopause)

6. Stress and anxiety

7. Connective tissue disorders (such as Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus)

8. Increased Physical Activity - sometimes initiating activities such as running, weightlifting, or high intensity training can lead to pelvic floor dysfunction. This doesn’t mean you should stop these activities but you seek guidance and training to perform them safely)

9. Repetitive Bending

10. Prolonged Sitting

11. Injuries to other parts of the body

12. Infections (COVID and other bacterial or viral infections) 

13. Sexual Abuse

14. Genetics (some people are born with higher risk of pelvic floor dysfunction due to weaker connective tissue and fascia)

15. Obesity

16. Cancer

Will my pelvic floor issues go away on their own?

While you may be tempted to wait for your symptoms to go away on their own, most of the time your symptoms only get worse if left untreated. Not only can they become much worse, but treatment can often take significantly longer when the problem becomes chronic. 

Should I be embarrassed to talk about pelvic floor symptoms and issues?

It can be really hard and embarrassing to talk about these issues, but if you are open and honest with your pelvic floor physical therapist, they will help you to better understand your issue and guide you to manage your symptoms safely. 

Who should help me with my pelvic floor dysfunction?

Your pelvic floor physical therapist can help. We can also connect you to the right professionals if we suspect your symptoms are more specific or complicated. Good pelvic floor physical therapists collaborate with Gastroenterologists, OBGYNs, and Urologists, all of which can be immensely helpful to managing symptoms, especially when combined with pelvic floor pt.

At Anewu Physical Therapy, we specialize in holistic treatment of the pelvic floor. Very often, pelvic floor dysfunction is exacerbated by movement dysfunction in other parts of the body. For example, when working with patients who leak urine during physical activity, we often address the hips, back, neck, and feet to reduce the strain on the pelvic floor and improve the overall coordination of the pelvic floor. By treating your pelvic floor conditions holistically, we correct the underlying causes and get long lasting results.

In the pelvic floor world, we often joke that there’s “no such thing as too much information.” We are here to help you no matter what. So many people experience pelvic floor dysfunction, but it should not be considered “normal.” You don’t have to live with it! It can be improved significantly with pelvic floor physical therapy. 

Are you curious if Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy is right for you? Schedule a Discovery Call today to discuss your conditions with a qualified Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist!