Pelvic Floor Disorders: 10 Signs You Should Stop Ignoring

Have you ever wondered how the multiple organs and systems in your pelvis stay in position so that they can function well? The short answer boils down to your pelvic floor — a group of muscles and tissues that form a supportive hammock in your pelvis.

Throughout life, you can take that pelvic floor support for granted until there’s a problem, which can make itself known in a variety of unwelcome ways. The reality is that 1 in 4 women in the United States develop a pelvic floor disorder, and it’s important to seek treatment when this happens to avoid larger, more disruptive issues.

At North Atlanta OB/GYN, our team of board-certified gynecology experts understands the impact that your pelvic floor can have on your health and well-being. In fact, we go a step further by offering specialized urogynecology services that cater to pelvic floor disorders.

Here, we look at different types of pelvic floor disorders, as well as potential signs of a problem and what you should do next.

Types of pelvic floor disorders

When we discuss pelvic floor disorders, we’re referring to issues created by a dysfunctional pelvic floor, such as:

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP)

POP affects slightly more than 30% of women, and it’s a condition in which pelvic organs shift down, or bulge, into your vaginal canal.

Urinary incontinence

An issue in your pelvic floor can lead to stress incontinence.

Fecal incontinence

If your pelvic floor malfunctions, you might experience fecal incontinence.

Pelvic pain

If your pelvic floor is too tight, weak, or damaged, it can lead to pelvic pain, as well as pain during sex.

Signs of a pelvic floor disorder

Since your pelvic floor isn’t something that you can readily see, it can be tricky to identify when there’s a problem. That said, some common signs of a pelvic floor disorder include:

1. A frequent urge to urinate, which is often caused by prolapse of the bladder
2. Pelvic pain that can affect your tailbone, pubic bone, and, more generally, an achiness in your pelvis
3. Pain during sex
4. Urinary stress incontinence — you leak urine when there’s pressure, such as when you cough or sneeze
5. Constipation
6. Low back pain that you can’t explain
7. Trouble initiating a bowel movement or urination
8. A feeling like there’s something caught in your bowel or vagina
9. Visible or palpable foreign tissue that’s descending your vaginal canal
10. Discomfort while sitting that goes away when you stand up

As researchers learn more about the large impact that your pelvic floor can have on your health, they’re also uncovering links to digestive issues, such as bloating and abdominal pain.

Getting help for your pelvic floor disorder

Many of the signs of a pelvic floor disorder can send you in different directions. You might seek out a urologist for your incontinence, a gastroenterologist for digestive issues, or a spine doctor for back pain.

At North Atlanta OB/GYN, we offer urogynecology services that can connect the dots between seemingly unrelated symptoms. If we find that your pelvic floor is responsible for your symptoms, we can work toward improving function through:

• Pelvic floor physical therapy
• Pessary supports
• Symptom management through medications
• Surgery in extreme cases of POP

Visit us sooner rather than later because pelvic floor disorders can get worse if left untreated. To sit down with a specialist in urogynecology, contact us by phone or online today at one of our offices in Atlanta, Alpharetta, or Marietta, Georgia.