Pelvic floor disorders encompass a range of conditions that cause pain or dysfunction near the bladder, urethra, intestines and rectum. This pain and discomfort can also include the uterus, cervix and vagina or the penis and testes. Pelvic floor disorders can be emotionally distressing for patients, and many do not share their symptoms with their doctors due to the normalization and stigma of some of these disorders. This Hormone Broadcast post overviews pelvic floor disorders and some common ways they may be treated. 

 

Pelvic floor disorders are common, particularly in individuals with female* anatomy. A 2008 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that approximately a quarter of women that were surveyed self-reported at least one form of pelvic floor disorder, and prevalence increased with age1. Some of the most common pelvic floor disorders are urinary incontinence, where there is involuntary leakage of urine, fecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, where pelvic organs are not well supported by the pelvic muscles, resulting in them dropping out of position2,3.  

 

Risk factors for pelvic floor disorders include: childbirth, pressure on the pelvic floor, age, weakening of surrounding connective tissues and muscle and surgeries such as hysterectomy, where the uterus is removed4,5. In particular, vaginal delivery is more closely associated with pelvic floor disorders compared to cesarean delivery6. The number of times a person has given birth also correlates with an increased risk of pelvic floor disorders7.  

 

Treatments for pelvic floor disorders span from lifestyle changes to medication and surgery. Treatments recommended will vary based on the type of pelvic floor disorder, but some of the common lifestyle changes suggested are changes in diet that can reduce stimulus to the bladder or increasing fiber intake to reduce bowel issues.  

 

Additionally, exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles effectively improve urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse8. Doctors may also prescribe medication to help with bladder or bowel control9. Finally, especially for patients that do not respond well to other treatments, surgery can be performed to treat pelvic floor disorders. Currently, researchers are trying to better understand the biological causes of pelvic floor disorders and how we can treat them more effectively. We hope this post helped you learn more about pelvic floor disorders, how one might get treated and how it’s more common than you might think!