Symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction include pelvic pain, urinary or fecal incontinence, and sexual dysfunction when the muscles of the pelvic floor are weakened or impaired. A person with pelvic floor dysfunction may require medical intervention as it can have a significant impact on their quality of life. Here's what you need to know:
Childbirth, trauma to the pelvic area, surgery, chronic constipation or straining during bowel movements, repetitive heavy lifting, obesity, and hormonal changes can all contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction. Muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues supporting the pelvic organs can be damaged or weakened by these factors, resulting in dysfunction.
A pelvic floor dysfunction can have a variety of symptoms, depending on the condition and severity of it. Pelvic pain, pressure, urgency, hesitancy, urinary or fecal incontinence, painful bowel movements, difficulty emptying the bladder or bowels completely, pain during intercourse, and pelvic organ prolapse (when bladder, uterus, or rectum descend into the vaginal canal).
It is typically necessary for a healthcare provider specializing in pelvic health, such as a urogynecologist or pelvic floor physical therapist, to conduct a comprehensive evaluation to diagnose pelvic floor dysfunction. A thorough medical history, physical examination, and symptoms assessment may be part of this assessment. To evaluate muscle strength, pelvic organ function, and identify any underlying abnormalities contributing to the dysfunction, additional diagnostic tests may be ordered, including pelvic floor muscle assessment, urodynamic testing, pelvic ultrasound, or MRI.
It is important to address the underlying causes of pelvic floor dysfunction, relieve symptoms, and improve pelvic floor function as part of a treatment plan. By using exercises, biofeedback, and manual therapy techniques, pelvic floor physical therapy aims to strengthen and relax the pelvic floor muscles. Maintaining a healthy weight, managing constipation, and avoiding heavy lifting may also be recommended as dietary and lifestyle modifications.
Medications to manage urinary or fecal incontinence, nerve stimulation techniques such as sacral neuromodulation or percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation, or minimally invasive procedures like botulinum toxin injections or pelvic floor muscle injections are other options for individuals with more severe or refractory symptoms. To correct pelvic organ prolapse or underlying structural abnormalities contributing to pelvic floor dysfunction, surgery may be necessary.
It is important to exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, practice good bowel and bladder habits, and avoid activities or behaviors that strain the pelvic floor muscles, such as heavy lifting or chronic constipation, in order to prevent pelvic floor dysfunction. To prevent long-term complications, it is essential to obtain prompt medical evaluation and treatment for pelvic symptoms or conditions that may increase the risk of pelvic floor dysfunction, such as childbirth or pelvic trauma.
