Womens Pelvic Floor Problems and How They Are Treated

Welcome to Women's Pelvic Floor Problems and How They Are Treated

Did you realize approximately a third of women in the United States will have a pelvic health problem by age 60? These problems may include abnormally heavy menstruation, stress incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse which can affect the bladder, the vagina, uterus, small bowel, and rectum, or uterine fibroid which are benign tumors consisting of connective tissue and muscle in the uterus.

Often women affected by pelvic health problems will fail to report these conditions to their health provider and will not seek treatment, sometimes because they feel embarrassed. Pelvic health problems can worsen with age, and as baby boomers begin to retire, they are likely to become more prevalent. The reason why age can affect pelvic floor problems is that after menopause the muscles and ligaments start to weaken, and the loss of estrogen does affect the strength of the pelvic floor muscles. Women who have had a hysterectomy may also find that the connective tissues and the surrounding organs weaken because they have lost the support of the uterus.

One of the most frequent problems that women will seek help for is stress incontinence. It's a problem frequently associated with pregnancy and childbirth and is where the pelvic floor muscles become too weak and loose. Other problems that can lead to pelvic floor issues include straining too hard on the toilet, and especially if you have constipation or chronic coughing. Some people will have a chronic cough because of bronchitis or asthma. If you participate in a lot of high-impact exercises such as netball, basketball or like to run, then the risk of leaking urine is increased, and it's an issue that can even affect elite athletes.

Being overweight increases the strain on the pelvic floor and can increase the risk of stress incontinence. Women who need to lift weights, for example, if they are in the caring professions such as nursing or have a courier job where it is necessary to lift heavy parcels job are more at risk, or if they train too hard in the gym.

Problems with the pelvic floor can develop when connective tissues in the pelvic area become overstretched, and when pelvic organs are displaced. Sometimes pelvic floor problems can be successfully treated by strengthening the pelvic muscles with specific exercises. Other times, more extensive treatment may be needed, and occasionally pelvic floor reconstructive surgery is required. An estimated 10% of women will need surgery for pelvic floor problems, and especially where a prolapse of the pelvic organs has occurred.

Surgically repairing the pelvic floor can help to strengthen the muscle supporting the organs in the pelvis, and surgical repair is a relatively common treatment. Although it might sound dramatic, many women find the procedure helps improve their quality of life. However, there may be less radical ways you can treat pelvic floor issues, and a good doctor will always try less invasive treatments initially.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Common symptoms of pelvic floor problems include leaking urine, having repeated bladder infections, feeling that when you do urinate your bladder isn't completely empty, or feeling as if something is coming out of your vagina. Some women will actually have to push their bladder back up into place to have a bowel movement or to urinate. Symptoms can vary according to the type of organ prolapse occurring because it can affect your uterus, your bladder or rectum.

If you suspect you may have pelvic floor problems or have noticed some discomfort or urine leakage, it's worth seeing your obstetrician or healthcare provider for a pelvic exam. Your doctor will need to review your medical history, and they will most likely perform a physical exam to check for any knots in your muscles or muscle spasms. Your doctor can also check for muscle weakness. They can assess your pelvic muscle control and muscle contractions with a quick internal exam.

Once your doctor has made a diagnosis, then they can discuss the most suitable treatments, and options include taking a wait and see approach which may be appropriate if you only have mild symptoms and want to avoid more invasive procedures. Sometimes a good home self-care can help improve this condition, and of course, you always have the option for surgery if the problem worsens.

Estrogen therapy might be helpful for postmenopausal women, and Kegel exercises are easy and discreet to do and help to strengthen support in the pelvic area. If you do require surgery, it will require a hospital visit because it is performed under general anesthesia. The recovery time may be a month or more.