Pelvic floor disorders refer to a range of conditions affecting the muscles, ligaments, connective tissues and nerves that make up the pelvic floor. These conditions can cause symptoms such as urinary incontinence, faecal incontinence, difficulty controlling bowels or bladder, pelvic organ prolapse and chronic pain in the area.
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The pelvic floor in women is a group of muscles, ligaments and connective tissues that support the organs in your pelvis (including the bladder, uterus and rectum). It also helps you control your bowel movements and urination. When these muscles weaken over time or become damaged through injury, childbirth or surgery, they can lead to pelvic floor disorders.
Symptoms
- Leaking urine when coughing or sneezing (urinary incontinence)
- Leaking stool (faecal incontinence)
- Difficulty controlling bowels or bladder during urination and/or defecation
- Pelvic organ prolapse (urinary, uterine or rectal)
- Pain during sex
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Difficulty emptying the bladder completely
Causes and Risk Factors
Pelvic floor disorders can be caused by various factors, including:
- Childbirth: Pregnancy, labour and delivery can put a strain on the pelvic floor muscles and nerves, leading to weakened or damaged muscles. Childbirth is one of the most common causes of pelvic floor disorder in women.
- Ageing: As you age, your body’s muscle strength declines and can lead to weakened pelvic floor muscles.
- Obesity: Being overweight puts extra strain on the pelvic floor muscles and nerves, which can lead to weakened or damaged muscles.
- Surgery: Any type of pelvic surgery may weaken or damage the surrounding pelvic floor muscles.
- Radiotherapy: Radiation treatment of different types of cancers in the pelvis also causes damage toe the pelvic floor muscles and nerves.
- Medical conditions: Chronic medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis or diabetes can also damage the pelvic floor muscles and nerves.
Diagnosis
If you experience any of the symptoms associated with pelvic floor disorders, it is important to seek medical help. Your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history. They may also recommend tests such as urine tests, ultrasound or even MRI scans, and certain specialised tests looking at organ function or dysfunction to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatments
The main goal of pelvic floor disorder treatments is to cure or reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. Treatment options may include lifestyle changes, medications, physical therapy, biofeedback techniques and/or surgery.
Making lifestyle changes can help improve your pelvic floor health. These may include quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding constipation and exercising regularly.
If your doctor prescribes a medication for pelvic floor disorder, it will be a prescription medication to help with bladder issues. This type of medication helps to "calm down" the bladder and reduce symptoms such as urinary leakage.
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a type of physical therapy designed to help strengthen and also relax the pelvic floor muscles. This can be done through exercises, stretches, electrical stimulation and manual manipulation.
Biofeedback techniques involve using sensors to measure how your body responds in certain activities (such as urinating or defecating) and pelvic floor training. This information can help you learn how to control and strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.
In some cases, surgery may be recommended to repair weakened or damaged pelvic floor tissues. These surgeries are usually minimally invasive and most patients can return home on the same day as their procedure, or after a short stay in hospital for more complex surgeries.
Find Help for Pelvic Floor Disorders
For those seeking services to manage pelvic floor disorders in Singapore, please feel free to contact us. We specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic floor disorders. If you are experiencing symptoms of pelvic floor disorder, it is important to talk to your doctor to get a proper diagnosis and relevant treatments that will help improve your quality of life.
Conclusion
It is also important to remember that pelvic floor disorders are not necessarily a lifelong condition. Taking steps to manage the symptoms and living a healthy lifestyle can help you reduce your risk of developing pelvic floor disorders in the future. Pelvic floor disorders are a common condition affecting millions of people, but there are treatments available to help manage the symptoms. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms associated with pelvic floor disorder, it is important to talk to your doctor. They can diagnose the condition and recommend treatments that will help improve your quality of life.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your current treatment plan or starting any new medications.
