Signs of Pelvic Floor Problems

Pelvic floor problems are more common than you might think and can affect people at any age. Research shows that about one in three women will face some form of pelvic floor problem during their lifetime, and roughly one in four women over 18 may experience issues like leaking urine or stool. If you’re dealing with these symptoms, you know how they can mess up your daily life.

Some people might need surgery to fix these problems. About 20% of women with pelvic floor issues may need surgery, and sadly, 30% of them might need more surgeries later. Some women are more likely to have these issues because they have weaker connective tissue from birth.

This is why our team is here to help with personalized Pelvic Floor Exercises and the latest research to make better plans. If you’re having trouble with pelvic floor symptoms, remember you’re not alone and there is help available.

Here’s what you need to know:

How to Recognize Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic floor dysfunction can show up in several ways. Common signs include:

Accidentally leaking urine during activities like exercise, laughing, coughing, sneezing, or running.
Feeling like you have to rush to the toilet or not make it in time.
Going to the toilet more often than usual.
It can be hard to completely empty your bladder or bowels.
You might experience unexpected leaks from your bladder or bowels.
Passing gas accidentally, particularly when bending or lifting heavy objects, can be a sign.
A prolapse, which in women might feel a bulge or heaviness in the vaginal area, while men may feel a bulge in the rectum or a persistent urge to have a bowel movement.
You may feel pain or discomfort in your pelvic region.
Painful sex, reduced sensation in the vagina, or inability to orgasm.
Recurrent urinary tract infections or recurrent thrush.
Tampons that dislodge or fall out.
A heaviness or dragging sensation in the pelvis or back.

Causes of Pelvic Floor Problems

Pelvic floor problems occur when these muscles are stretched, weakened, or too tight. They can be weak from a young age or develop issues after events like pregnancy, childbirth, or menopause. Tight pelvic floor muscles that can’t relax can also cause problems, often worsened by overworking the muscles without proper relaxation.

Here is a list of factors that can impact the fitness of your pelvic floor muscles, including:

Inactivity or overworking the muscles
Pregnancy and childbirth
Back pain history
Chronic constipation and straining
Being overweight or obese
Heavy lifting
Chronic cough or sneeze (due to conditions like asthma, smoking, or hayfever)
Previous pelvic injuries (from falls, surgery, or radiotherapy)
Aging
People with conditions like Parkinson’s disease can have pelvic floor problems because their nerve issues affect how their muscles work.

Despite being out of sight, your pelvic floor muscles can be consciously controlled and trained, just like other muscles in your body. Strengthening these muscles can improve bladder and bowel control, reducing the likelihood of accidental leaks. A regular exercise program can help make these muscles stronger, benefiting both men and women.

Risks of Pelvic Floor Problems During Pregnancy and Childbirth

Postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction is a condition that only affects women after giving birth. It’s not about how you deliver your baby—whether through a cesarean section or vaginally. Instead, it’s related to the changes pregnancy makes to your pelvic floor. So, no matter the type of delivery, you could still experience postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction.

Some women are at higher risk of developing pelvic floor problems during pregnancy and childbirth. This includes women who have had multiple births, instrumental births using forceps or ventouse, a long second stage of labor (over one hour), severe perineal tearing, or large babies (over 4 kg).

Pelvic floor muscle exercises are a great way to maintain pelvic floor fitness during and after pregnancy. These exercises help maintain bladder and bowel control throughout pregnancy, reduce the risk of developing a prolapse, and assist with recovery after birth.

How to Tell if You Have Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic floor exercises are meant to strengthen your pelvic muscles, which include the vaginal, urethral, and anal muscles. Getting to know these muscles helps you contract them when needed. If your pelvic floor is particularly weak, you might not feel any muscle action initially.

Here’s How to Find Your Pelvic Floor Muscles:

Vaginal Muscles: Insert one or two fingers into your vagina and try to squeeze them.
Urethral Muscles: Imagine you are peeing and try to stop the flow midstream (don’t actually do this while urinating).
Anal Muscles: Pretend you’re trying to stop yourself from passing gas and squeeze tightly.

It’s essential to feel a full release of these muscles. These muscles are circular, so it might help to picture their release like ripples in a pond, feeling them open and relax.

Conditions That Might Look Like Pelvic Floor Issues

Sometimes, other health problems can seem a lot like pelvic floor dysfunction. Here’s a rundown of what might be confused with it:

Interstitial Cystitis: This condition can make your pelvic area or bladder hurt and might cause your pelvic muscles to tighten up.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): IBS messes with your digestive system, leading to constipation and problems emptying your bowels, which can overlap with pelvic floor issues.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP): In POP, the muscles that support your pelvic organs get weak, causing them to push out through the vagina in women, or feel like a bulge in the rectum in men.
Erectile Dysfunction (ED): If you have trouble getting or keeping an erection, it could be related to tight pelvic muscles or pain.
Prostatitis: This is an infection or swelling of the prostate that can cause symptoms similar to pelvic floor dysfunction.
Constipation: Struggling with constipation can feel like pelvic floor dysfunction, and straining can make things worse.
Anorectal Conditions: Issues with your anus or rectum, like tears or abnormal connections, can also mimic pelvic floor problems.

How Do Doctors Figure Out If You Have Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?

When you see a doctor for pelvic floor issues, they’ll start by asking you about your symptoms and medical history. They might ask questions like:

Do you find yourself straining to go to the bathroom?
Can you completely empty your bladder?
Do you feel fully empty after using the bathroom?
How often do you need to use the toilet?
For women, they might also ask about your pregnancy history and if you have pain during sex.

Tests Your Doctor Might Do

To figure out what’s going on, your doctor might perform a few tests:

Physical Exam: They might check how your pelvic muscles are working by examining you. For women, this includes a pelvic exam, and for everyone, a rectal exam.

Other possible tests include:

Anorectal Manometry: This test measures how well your anal muscles work when you have a bowel movement and might also check how your pelvic muscles coordinate.
Defecography: This imaging test shows how well you can start and complete a bowel movement and checks for any problems with your pelvic organs.
Urodynamic Tests: These tests look at how well your bladder holds and releases urine, helping to find issues like weak urine flow or trouble starting and stopping urination.

These tests help your doctor understand what’s causing your symptoms and figure out the best way to treat them. If you’re having these problems, it’s important to get checked out to get the right care.

Best Ways to Treat Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Hoping that a pelvic floor disorder will simply resolve itself over time is usually not realistic. In some situations, such as a mild pelvic organ prolapse, a urogynecologist might recommend a “wait and see” approach, depending on how severe your symptoms are and how much they bother you.

However, for most pelvic floor issues, doing nothing often means the problem remains the same or could even get worse. Conditions like incontinence or other pelvic floor disorders are unlikely to improve without treatment. In fact, they often need proactive management to prevent deterioration.

The main goal of treating pelvic floor problems is to help relax the muscles in your pelvis. This can make going to the bathroom easier and give you better control. While surgery is an option, there are simpler treatments you can try first.

Simple Ways to Treat Pelvic Floor Problems

If you’re having trouble with your pelvic floor, there are several treatments that can help:

This involves using sensors to monitor how your pelvic muscles are working. A therapist uses this information to help you learn how to control and relax these muscles better.
Pessaries are small devices placed inside the vagina to support the pelvic organs. They are a non-surgical option that many women find useful.
Sometimes, doctors may prescribe medications to help relax your muscles and reduce discomfort.
To avoid straining your pelvic muscles, try not to push hard during bowel movements. Relaxation practices like yoga, stretching, and warm baths can help. Using a Pelvic Floor Exercise app can guide you through specific exercises to strengthen and relax these muscles.
If the problem is caused by a rectal prolapse, surgery might be needed to fix the affected organs.
Botox can be injected into the bladder and can help reduce symptoms of overactive bladder and urinary incontinence by relaxing the bladder muscles.
Techniques like InterStim therapy and tibial nerve stimulation use electrical signals to help improve pelvic floor muscle function.

Can I Do Anything About Incontinence on My Own?

Absolutely, there are several proactive steps you can take to manage incontinence on your own. Here’s how you can tackle this issue:

Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor

Engaging in pelvic floor exercises, like Kegels, can significantly improve your bladder control. These exercises are simple yet effective ways to fortify the muscles that support your bladder, helping you gain better control over urination.

Modify Your Diet

What you eat can impact your bladder health. Incorporating high-fiber foods can ease bowel movements and reduce pressure on your bladder. Additionally, cutting back on caffeine and other bladder irritants can lessen the frequency and urgency of urination.

Implement Behavioral Techniques

Changing certain habits can make a big difference:

Fluid Management: Be mindful of your fluid intake. Drink enough to stay hydrated, but avoid excessive drinking, especially before bed or long outings.
Bladder Training: Try to extend the time between bathroom visits. Gradually increasing the intervals can train your bladder to hold more urine comfortably.
Medication Review: Speak with your doctor about any medications you’re taking that might affect your bladder control. Adjusting the dosage or timing could help.

Track Your Activities and Habits Using the Pelvic Floor Exercise App – Bottom Line!

Using a Pelvic Floor Exercise app can be a game-changer in managing Pelvic Floor Problems. The app can help you track your exercises, monitor your progress, and remind you to stay consistent. It can also log your fluid intake, dietary habits, and bathroom trips, providing valuable insights into what might be affecting your bladder control. The app offers features such as:

Personalized Exercise Plans: Tailored to your specific needs and goals.
Health Insights and Progress Tracking: Detailed analysis to help you understand your improvements.
Expert Guidance: Access to educational content and expert advice.
Community Support: Engage with others through chat features and community support.

Thus, maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, and avoiding heavy lifting can all contribute to better pelvic floor health. These lifestyle changes not only improve overall well-being but also reduce the risk of incontinence and Pelvic floor problems.