Research
Summary of Science, Anatomy & Explanation
FREEDOM+™ Focused Magnetic Stimulation treatment accelerates muscle strengthening process to under 30 days
General Overview
What is pelvic floor dysfunction?
Pelvic floor dysfunction is a common condition where you’re unable to correctly relax and coordinate the muscles in your pelvic floor to urinate or to have a bowel movement. If you’re a woman or assigned female at birth (AFAB), you may also feel pain during sex, and if you’re a man or assigned male at birth (AMAB), you may have problems having or keeping an erection (erectile dysfunction or ED). Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles found in the floor (the base) of your pelvis (the bottom of your torso).
If you think of the pelvis as being the home to organs like your bladder, uterus or prostate, and rectum, the pelvic floor muscles are the home’s foundation. These muscles act as the support structure keeping everything in place within your body. Your pelvic floor muscles add support to several of your organs by wrapping around your pelvic bone. Some of these muscles add more stability by forming a sling around your rectum.
Your pelvic organs include:
- Your bladder (the pouch holding your urine).
- Your uterus and vagina (in women).
- Your prostate (in men).
- Your rectum (the area at the end of your large intestine where your body stores solid waste).
FREEDOM+™ Focused Magnetic Stimulation treatment accelerates muscle strengthening process to under 30 days
General Overview
What is pelvic floor dysfunction?
Pelvic floor dysfunction is a common condition where you’re unable to correctly relax and coordinate the muscles in your pelvic floor to urinate or to have a bowel movement. If you’re a woman or assigned female at birth (AFAB), you may also feel pain during sex, and if you’re a man or assigned male at birth (AMAB), you may have problems having or keeping an erection (erectile dysfunction or ED). Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles found in the floor (the base) of your pelvis (the bottom of your torso).
If you think of the pelvis as being the home to organs like your bladder, uterus or prostate, and rectum, the pelvic floor muscles are the home’s foundation. These muscles act as the support structure keeping everything in place within your body. Your pelvic floor muscles add support to several of your organs by wrapping around your pelvic bone. Some of these muscles add more stability by forming a sling around your rectum.
Your pelvic organs include:
- Your bladder (the pouch holding your urine).
- Your uterus and vagina (in women).
- Your prostate (in men).
- Your rectum (the area at the end of your large intestine where your body stores solid waste).
Normally, you’re able to go to the bathroom with no problem because your body tightens and relaxes its pelvic floor muscles. This is just like any other muscular action, like tightening your biceps when you lift a heavy box or clenching your fist.
But if you have pelvic floor dysfunction, your body keeps tightening these muscles instead of relaxing them as it should. This tension means you may have:
- Trouble evacuating (releasing) a bowel movement.
- An incomplete bowel movement.
- Urine or stool that leaks.
Normally, you’re able to go to the bathroom with no problem because your body tightens and relaxes its pelvic floor muscles. This is just like any other muscular action, like tightening your biceps when you lift a heavy box or clenching your fist.
But if you have pelvic floor dysfunction, your body keeps tightening these muscles instead of relaxing them as it should. This tension means you may have:
- Trouble evacuating (releasing) a bowel movement.
- An incomplete bowel movement.
- Urine or stool that leaks.
Does pregnancy cause pelvic floor dysfunction?
Pregnancy is a common cause of pelvic floor dysfunction. Often women or people AFAB experience pelvic floor dysfunction after they give birth. Your pelvic floor muscles and tissues can become strained during pregnancy, especially if your labor was long or difficult.
Does pregnancy cause pelvic floor dysfunction?
Pregnancy is a common cause of pelvic floor dysfunction. Often women or people AFAB experience pelvic floor dysfunction after they give birth. Your pelvic floor muscles and tissues can become strained during pregnancy, especially if your labor was long or difficult.
There are different pelvic conditions that are unique to men (AMAB) and women (AFAB).
Is pelvic floor dysfunction different for men and women?
There are different pelvic conditions that are unique to men (AMAB) and women (AFAB).
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Men
Every year, millions of men around the world experience pelvic floor dysfunction. Because the pelvic floor muscles work as part of the waste (excretory) and reproductive systems during urination and sex, pelvic floor dysfunction can co-exist with many other conditions affecting men, including:
- Male urinary dysfunction: This condition can involve leaking urine after peeing, running to the bathroom (incontinence) and other bladder and bowel issues.
- Erectile dysfunction (ED): ED is when you can’t get or maintain an erection during sex. Sometimes, pelvic muscle tension or pain is the cause, but ED is a complex condition so this may not be the case.
- Prostatitis: Pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms closely resemble prostatitis, which is an infection or inflammation of your prostate (a male reproductive gland). Prostatitis can have many causes including bacteria, sexually transmitted infections or trauma to your nervous system.
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Men
Every year, millions of men around the world experience pelvic floor dysfunction. Because the pelvic floor muscles work as part of the waste (excretory) and reproductive systems during urination and sex, pelvic floor dysfunction can co-exist with many other conditions affecting men, including:
- Male urinary dysfunction: This condition can involve leaking urine after peeing, running to the bathroom (incontinence) and other bladder and bowel issues.
- Erectile dysfunction (ED): ED is when you can’t get or maintain an erection during sex. Sometimes, pelvic muscle tension or pain is the cause, but ED is a complex condition so this may not be the case.
- Prostatitis: Pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms closely resemble prostatitis, which is an infection or inflammation of your prostate (a male reproductive gland). Prostatitis can have many causes including bacteria, sexually transmitted infections or trauma to your nervous system.
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Women
Pelvic floor dysfunction can interfere with a woman’s reproductive health by affecting the uterus and vagina. Women who get pelvic floor dysfunction may also have other symptoms like pain during sex.
Pelvic floor dysfunction is very different than pelvic organ prolapse. Pelvic organ prolapse happens when the muscles holding your pelvic organs (uterus, rectum and bladder) in place loosen and become too stretched out. Pelvic organ prolapse can cause your organs to protrude (stick out) of your vagina or rectum and may require you to push them back inside.
Is pelvic floor dysfunction related to interstitial cystitis?
Interstitial cystitis is a chronic bladder condition that causes pain in your pelvis or bladder. Pain from your bladder can cause pain in your pelvic floor muscles and then loss of muscle relaxation and strength, which is pelvic floor dysfunction. So, having one of these conditions increases your risk of having the other.
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Women
Pelvic floor dysfunction can interfere with a woman’s reproductive health by affecting the uterus and vagina. Women who get pelvic floor dysfunction may also have other symptoms like pain during sex.
Pelvic floor dysfunction is very different than pelvic organ prolapse. Pelvic organ prolapse happens when the muscles holding your pelvic organs (uterus, rectum and bladder) in place loosen and become too stretched out. Pelvic organ prolapse can cause your organs to protrude (stick out) of your vagina or rectum and may require you to push them back inside.
Is pelvic floor dysfunction related to interstitial cystitis?
Interstitial cystitis is a chronic bladder condition that causes pain in your pelvis or bladder. Pain from your bladder can cause pain in your pelvic floor muscles and then loss of muscle relaxation and strength, which is pelvic floor dysfunction. So, having one of these conditions increases your risk of having the other.
Management and Treatment
How do you treat pelvic floor dysfunction?
Fortunately, pelvic floor dysfunction can be treated relatively easily in many cases. If you need physical therapy, you’re likely to feel better, but it may take a few months of sessions. Pelvic floor dysfunction is treated without surgery. Nonsurgical treatments include:
- Biofeedback
- Pelvic floor physical therapy
- Medications
- Relaxation techniques
- Surgery
Management and Treatment
How do you treat pelvic floor dysfunction?
Fortunately, pelvic floor dysfunction can be treated relatively easily in many cases. If you need physical therapy, you’re likely to feel better, but it may take a few months of sessions. Pelvic floor dysfunction is treated without surgery. Nonsurgical treatments include:
- Biofeedback
- Pelvic floor physical therapy
- Medications
- Relaxation techniques
- Surgery
Will I need surgery to treat pelvic floor dysfunction?
There isn’t a surgery to treat pelvic floor dysfunction because it’s an issue with your muscles. In rare circumstances, when physical therapy and biofeedback don’t work, your provider might recommend you see a pain injection specialist. These doctors specialize in localizing the specific muscles that are too tense or causing pain. They can use a small needle to inject the muscle with numbing medication and relaxing medication. This is called trigger point injection.
What makes pelvic floor dysfunction worse?
It can take several months of routine bowel or urinary medications and pelvic floor physical therapy before symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction start to improve. The most important part of treatment is to not give up. Forgetting to take your medications every day will cause your symptoms to continue and possibly get worse. Also, skipping physical therapy appointments or not practicing exercises can slow healing.
Any activity that increases the tension or pain in your pelvic floor muscles can cause your symptoms to get worse. For example, heavy weightlifting or repetitive jumping can increase your pelvic floor tension and actually worsen symptoms.
What makes pelvic floor dysfunction worse?
It can take several months of routine bowel or urinary medications and pelvic floor physical therapy before symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction start to improve. The most important part of treatment is to not give up. Forgetting to take your medications every day will cause your symptoms to continue and possibly get worse. Also, skipping physical therapy appointments or not practicing exercises can slow healing.
Any activity that increases the tension or pain in your pelvic floor muscles can cause your symptoms to get worse. For example, heavy weightlifting or repetitive jumping can increase your pelvic floor tension and actually worsen symptoms.
Outlook / Prognosis
Who treats pelvic floor dysfunction?
Depending on your symptoms and how much pain you feel, you might be treated by your regular provider, a physical therapist, a gynecologist, a gastroenterologist, a pelvic pain anesthesiologist or a pelvic floor surgeon.
Does pelvic floor dysfunction go away on its own?
Pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms (like an overactive bladder) typically stay or become worse if they’re not treated. Instead of living with pain and discomfort, you can often improve your everyday life after a visit with your provider.
Outlook / Prognosis
Who treats pelvic floor dysfunction?
Depending on your symptoms and how much pain you feel, you might be treated by your regular provider, a physical therapist, a gynecologist, a gastroenterologist, a pelvic pain anesthesiologist or a pelvic floor surgeon.
Does pelvic floor dysfunction go away on its own?
Pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms (like an overactive bladder) typically stay or become worse if they’re not treated. Instead of living with pain and discomfort, you can often improve your everyday life after a visit with your provider.
A Note From Cleveland Clinic
Your perineum includes the delicate portion of skin between your genitals and anus and the underlying tissues that make up the bottom part of your pelvic cavity. It plays an important role in the structural integrity of your pelvis. That said, don’t be alarmed if your perineum tears during childbirth. Your tear may require stitches, but most injuries heal in time. Your healthcare provider can recommend pain management strategies that ease your symptoms as you heal.
A Note From Cleveland Clinic
Your perineum includes the delicate portion of skin between your genitals and anus and the underlying tissues that make up the bottom part of your pelvic cavity. It plays an important role in the structural integrity of your pelvis. That said, don’t be alarmed if your perineum tears during childbirth. Your tear may require stitches, but most injuries heal in time. Your healthcare provider can recommend pain management strategies that ease your symptoms as you heal.
