The pelvic floor is a term used to describe the muscles, ligaments and connective tissue that provide support for a woman’s internal organs. These include the bowel, bladder, uterus, vagina and rectum.
Not only does the pelvic floor prevent these organs from falling down or out, it also plays an important role in making the organs function properly. Weakness of the pelvic floor can lead to a variety of conditions, including urinary incontinence and overactive bladder.
Pelvic floor weakness is a common problem: It is estimated that 11 percent of women by age 70 will undergo reconstructive pelvic surgery. Despite being a common condition, women often don’t feel comfortable talking about pelvic floor disorders.
Pelvic Floor Disorder Symptoms
Women with weakness of the pelvic muscles or tears in the connective tissue may begin to have problems controlling their bladder and bowels.
They often describe the following symptoms:
- A bulge sensation
- Pressure or a protrusion through the vaginal opening
- Urine leakage (urinary incontinence)
- Frequency or urgency of urination
- Difficulty emptying the bladder
- Bowel gas or stool leakage (anal incontinence)
It is possible to experience more than one of these signs and symptoms of pelvic floor disorders.
Pelvic Floor Disorders Treatment at Valley
- Medical specialists called urogynecologists are specially trained to diagnose and treat these problems.
- Valley’s urogynecology program can help improve your quality of life by treating your incontinence or prolapse issues.
- We offer both non-surgical and surgical urogynecology treatment to address your pelvic floor disorders, including minimally invasive robotic and laparoscopic surgery.
