The pelvic floor has an essential role on various aspects in our body. By supporting pelvic organs, bladder and bowel, the pelvic floor helps maintain continence and avoid women’s health issues such as pelvic organ prolapse, urinary leakage or incontinence. It also holds these organs in the best position so they can achieve their function.
So how can you recognise the signs of a weak pelvic floor and related issues?
How to know if I have pelvic floor issues?
Pain or lack of sensation during intercourse
You may notice one of the other when having sex with your partner. Pain with the intercourse might be the sign of an overactive pelvic floor while lack of sensation may be the result of a too relaxed pelvic floor.
Bladder and bowel issues: constipation or leakage
You may notice that you have urinary of fecal incontinence, or that you cannot empty your bladder or bowel completely, or may suffer from constipation.
Problems with tampons
You may find that tampons are no longer comfortable, or they dislodge.
Heavy sensation in the vagina
You may have an awareness of a pressure, or a bulging or dragging sensation in the vagina. This might be the symptoms of a pelvic organ prolapse, you haven’t been officially diagnosed yet.
Pelvic pain
You may have pain through the pelvic girdle joints, including the pubic symphysis joints or the sacroiliac joints, as well as pain through the coccyx bone at the back. You may as well have pain that spreads inside the vagina, or around the vulva.
Pregnancy and delivery
You may have previously had a pregnancy or vaginal delivery. Even for a c-section delivery, the weight of the pregnancy can affect your pelvic floor.
Birth traumas: vaginal tear or episiotomy
If you’ve had a traumatic vaginal delivery that resulted in vaginal tear, an episiotomy, or instrumental assisted delivery including ventouse or forceps, you’re at slightly higher risk that of pelvic organ and pelvic floor issues.
I think I have pelvic floor issues, what shall I do?
We recommend all women who have had a pregnancy to go see a physiotherapist London for a full women’s health assessment of the pelvic floor and personalised treatment to go along with every need.
It is never too late to start pelvic floor rehabilitation and talk about your concerns to a GP or women’s health specialists. Pelvic floor is an intimate part of the body but it shouldn’t be a taboo subject. Most of pelvic floor issues are very common and respond really well to pelvic health physiotherapy. A few sessions will be needed for you to get back to a happier life, with a stronger body.
For more information about pelvic floor rehabilitation: Click here
If you want further information on pelvic floor rehabilitation or wish to book an assessment at home or in our women’s health physiotherapy practices in London (Monument, Belgravia, Clapham): 0207 125 0262 / 0782 455 3765
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