Pelvic floor dysfunction isn’t something you hear about often, but it’s a common condition that’s getting more attention in recent years. It’s when you’re unable to relax and coordinate your pelvic floor muscles to have a bowel movement. It’s estimated that one in three women will develop this condition.
Read on to find out what it is and how it can be managed so that you can get (much-needed) symptom relief.
What Is Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?
You may not think of your pelvic floor muscles as having anything to do with having a bowel movement, but your pelvic floor muscles are the foundation for major organs such as the:
- Bladder
- Uterus
- Vagina
- Prostate
- Rectum
You can think of these muscles like a hammock for your major organs, so when they are weakened or not working properly, many problems can occur.
What Causes It?
The full details of what causes pelvic floor dysfunction are still not clear. Usually, it’s when the muscles are weakened or damaged. What doctors do know is there are some contributing factors, such as:
- A car accident or traumatic injury to your pelvic area
- A history of pelvic surgery
- Pregnancy
- Overuse of your pelvic muscles
- Being overweight
- Advancing Age
Researchers are looking into a possible genetic cause as well. If someone in your family has it, you could be at an increased risk.
What Does Pelvic Floor Dysfunction In Women Feel Like?
Both men and women can experience this, but it’s more common in women. You may be wondering, what does pelvic floor dysfunction feel like for a woman?
Women feel the urge to urinate often or feel like they have to force their urine out. You should never have to force it out, so if you feel this way, it’s a sign something is wrong. Women also have difficulty having a bowel movement or chronic constipation. Pelvic floor conditions can interfere with the uterus and vagina, causing problems with reproductive health and pain during sex.
Treatment Options
Since the medical community is talking about pelvic floor dysfunction more, there is more education about how to treat it. Some doctors specialize in this area if you need more help.
There are different ways to manage this condition, from things you can do at home to surgery.
Lifestyle changes
To reduce symptoms, making some lifestyle changes may be the easiest place to start.
Limit food and drinks that stimulate the bladder: Avoiding caffeinated beverages, carbonated beverages, alcohol, citrus fruits and anything with artificial sweeteners can help. These drinks stimulate the bladder, causing you to use the bathroom more often, making symptoms worse.
Eat a high-fiber diet: Consuming more fiber can help you digest food and prevent constipation and straining to have a bowel movement.
Lose weight: If you’re overweight, losing weight can help reduce pressure in your pelvic floor and help with bladder control.
Nonsurgical treatments
There are different nonsurgical medical treatments you can try, such as:
Bladder Training: This is when you use the bathroom on a schedule to improve bladder control. The goal is to regain control so you only have to use the bathroom every 2-3 hours.
Pelvic Floor Muscle Training (PFMT): You may have heard these referred to as Kegal exercises. These exercises can help strengthen pelvic floor muscles and can easily be done a few times a day. To get started, you can squeeze your pelvic floor muscles and hold for a few seconds at a time. The goal is to do this 10-15 times a day. If you’re unsure how to do this, you can talk to your doctor or get a referral to a physical therapist who can help.
Medicine: Sometimes, your doctor can prescribe medicine to help control your bladder and bowels. Talk to your healthcare provider if this is something you’re interested in.
Biofeedback: Biofeedback is a noninvasive therapy that uses sensors on your body to give you information about how your muscles are working. You’ll work with a trained professional who will interpret the feedback and can help you retrain your muscles. The goals are to regain bladder and bowel control and to reduce pain.
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy: This is physical therapy specifically designed to help strengthen abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. This is a great option because you’ll have trained therapists to explain exactly what you need to do and answer your questions.
Surgical treatments
When other interventions don’t work, surgical options may be necessary. There are many different surgical options that can be done in a same-day surgery setting.
Some of the most common surgical treatments are:
- Bladder sling to help with bladder control
- Sacral colpopexy or sacrospinous ligament suspension for uterus or vaginal prolapse
- Repairing anal sphincter for bowel control
Surgery is only necessary when symptoms are severe. It’s important to talk to your doctor at the first sign that something is wrong.
When To Seek Help?
For years, many women did not talk about their symptoms, leaving them to suffer in silence. Today, more women’s health offices have pelvic floor specialists in their practice, and more people are open to talking about it.
You should see your doctor if you experience any:
- Heaviness or pressure in the pelvic area or vagina
- If tissue is coming through the vaginal opening (this could indicate prolapse)
- Incontinence of urine or stool
- Difficulty urinating
- Urinary frequency or sudden, unexpected need to urinate
Pelvic floor dysfunction is common in women, so don’t wait to see your doctor. There are many treatment options and minimally invasive ways to manage this condition. By getting an early diagnosis and treatment, you may be able to prevent it from getting worse.
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How Are Pelvic Floor Disorders Treated?
