Your pelvic floor consists of ligaments, muscles, and connective tissue. It helps maintain sexual function, core stability, and continence. Pelvic organs include the uterus, bladder, and bowels. Weakened or injured tissues of the pelvic floor can lead to pelvic prolapse, sexual decline, and chronic pain.
Managing pelvic health conditions is key to a physically comfortable existence. All women should have an understanding of what conditions affect the pelvis and options for support.
Urinary Incontinence: Loss of Bladder Control
Whether due to leaks or an inability to control the bladder, urinary incontinence disrupts quality of life. The condition is often associated with aging. However, there can also be other underlying factors that trigger loss of bladder control.
Fortunately, incontinence is treatable in most cases. Conservative pelvic floor therapy options include lifestyle adjustments, medications, physical therapy, bladder training, and exercise. Speak with your doctor, who can recommend a urogynecologist for consultation.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse: When Support Structures Weaken
When tissues and muscles are weakened, pelvic organs can drop and bulge. This condition is common in women. Pelvic organ prolapse symptoms include:
- Feelings of arching, heaviness, or fullness
- Sensation of sitting on a small ball pushing at the vagina
- Urinary issues (leakage, urgency, inability to empty bladder)
- Bowel issues
- Painful sexual intercourse
Early intervention can improve function and quality of life.
Chronic Pelvic Pain: Persistent and Often Misunderstood
Pelvic pain happens below the belly button and in the hips. The pain is chronic if it lasts six months or longer. This health condition affects 1 in 7 women and requires a multidisciplinary approach. Underlying causes of chronic pelvic pain can be gynecological, musculoskeletal, or neurological.
Diagnosis involves a physical exam, medical history, and may include laparoscopy and imaging. Specialists may recommend medications, hormone therapies, physical therapy, and counseling as the condition could be stress-related. Other treatments may involve exercise, sleep habits, and improving posture.
Fecal Incontinence: Loss of Bowel Control
An inability to control your bowels and gas is often linked to weakened pelvic floor muscles. It commonly affects women and older adults. Key factors that play a part in fecal incontinence treatment are:
- Muscle or nerve damage
- Digestive issues
- Rectal problems
Fecal incontinence is treated with dietary changes (avoiding trigger foods, drinking sufficient fluids, increasing fiber intake) to enhance stool consistency. Physical therapy aimed at the pelvic floor can strengthen muscles and provide resistance. Doctors may suggest fiber supplements, anti-diarrheals, or laxatives.
Overactive Bladder: Urgency and Frequency
Living with an overactive bladder is characterized by uncontrollable, sudden needs to urinate, the need to go frequently, and a fear that you may not make it to a bathroom. The condition may result in multiple trips throughout the night.
Dealing with an overactive bladder involves calming bladder muscles to improve control. Treatment may involve bladder training and pelvic exercises. Adjustments to fluid intake may also help, such as avoiding caffeine or acidic foods. There are also over-the-counter and prescription medications, Botox injections for the bladder, and nerve stimulation.
Options for Support: From Conservative to Advanced Care
Managing pelvic floor disorders often starts with non-surgical, conservative therapies. Options include:
- PFPT (Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy): specialized rehabilitation, biofeedback, manual therapy
- Lifestyle modifications: Diet adjustments, bladder and bowel retraining, weight management
- Medical support devices: includes options such as a vaginal pessary
- Surgical options, including mesh-free options (such as those at ARMS Medical)
- Medications and intervention: includes suppositories, injections, and stimulation
When to Seek Help for Pelvic Health Concerns
For pelvic health conditions, you want to have a conversation with your primary care doctor or gynecologist, who will assess the condition and refer you to a physical therapist or a urogynecologist. There are also local support networks for pelvic rehabilitation and women’s health.
Conclusion
Taking care of pelvic floor disorders requires understanding its function and how to prevent and treat painful conditions. Pelvic health conditions are more common and more treatable than many realize. With advancements in both non-invasive and clinical treatment options, patients today have access to tailored solutions that address the root cause of their symptoms. If you have questions or problems, talk to your health care provider.
