Pelvic floor dysfunction is the inability to control the muscles of yourpelvic floor.
Your pelvic floor is the group of muscles and ligaments in your骨盆. The pelvic floor acts like a sling to support theorgans in your pelvis— including thebladder,rectum, anduterusorprostate. Contracting and relaxing these muscles allows you to control yourbowel movements,urination, and, for women particularly,sexual intercourse.
Pelvic floor dysfunction forces you to contract your muscles rather than relax them. As a result, you may experience difficulty having abowel movement.
If left untreated, pelvic floor dysfunction can lead to discomfort, long-termcolon damage, orinfection.
There are a number of symptoms associated with pelvic floor dysfunction. If you are diagnosed with pelvic floor dysfunction, you may experience symptoms including:
- urinary issues, such as theurge to urinateorpainful urination
- constipationorbowel strains
- lower back pain
- pain in the pelvic region, genitals, or rectum
- discomfort during sexual intercoursefor women
- pressure in the pelvic region or rectum
- muscle spasms in the pelvis
While exact causes are still being researched, doctors can link pelvic floor dysfunction to conditions or events that weaken the pelvic muscles or tear connective tissue:
- childbirth
- 骨盆创伤性损伤
- obesity
- pelvic surgery
- nerve damage
It’s important not to self-diagnose your symptoms because they may indicate more serious conditions.
To make a diagnosis, your doctor will review your medical history and observe your symptoms. After the initial consultation, your doctor will perform a physical evaluation to check formuscle spasms or knots. They will also check formuscle weakness.
To check for pelvic muscle control and pelvic muscle contractions, your doctor may perform aninternal examby placing a perineometer — a small, sensing device — into yourrectumor vagina.
A less invasive option involves placingelectrodeson your perineum, the area between the scrotum and anus or vagina and anus, to determine if you can contract and relax pelvic muscles.
The goal for treating pelvic floor dysfunction is to relax the pelvic floor muscles to make bowel movements easier and to provide more control.
Kegel exercises, or similar techniques that require you to contract your muscles, will not help this condition. While surgery is an option, there are less invasive treatment options available.
A common treatment for this condition is biofeedback. This technique allows your therapist to monitor how you relax or contract your pelvic muscles through special sensors. After observing your muscle activity, your therapist will tell you how to improve your coordination.
Other treatment options include:
- Medication.Your doctor may prescribe amuscle relaxantto help with pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms. The relaxants can prevent your muscles from contracting.
- Self-care.To reduce strain on your pelvic floor muscles, avoid pushing or straining when using the bathroom. Relaxation techniques such asyogaandstretchingcan also help to relax your pelvic floor muscles. Takingwarm bathsis another useful technique. Warm water improves blood circulation and relaxes the muscles.
- Surgery.If your pelvic floor dysfunction is the result of arectal prolapse— a condition that causes the rectal tissue to fall into the anal opening — surgery will loosen the affected pelvic organs and cause them to relax.
Although embarrassing or sometimes painful, pelvic floor dysfunction is a highly treatable condition. Talk with your doctor about your symptoms to get a proper diagnosis. There are several home remedies you can try before resorting to medication or surgery for treatment.