Program, World Integrated Systems in Health and Dr. Sandra Bevacqua 20 Early Signs of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Pelvic floor issues can affect women at any
age.
1. If you find yourself leaking a drop or two of
urine when laughing, sneezing, jumping, lifting, or running down stairs, then you may be experi- encing urinary stress incontinence. This is the most common issue associated with the pelvic floor, so you are not alone! Stress incontinence can be caused by weak pelvic floor muscles or lack of support in the pelvic bowl, which can be remedied with individualized exer- cises specifically meant to strengthen the weakened tissues. 2. If you wake up more than once to urinate during the night you may be suffering from an overactive bladder and/or urinary urge incontinence. These occur usually as a result of bladder in- flammation, bladder prolapse or rarely due to nerve damage along the neural pathway from the bladder to the brain. 3. Another indication of an overactive bladder can be the urge to urinate even after you have already relieved your- self. This can also be associated with bladder infection which is accompanied with the feeling of burning during urina- tion.
4. Feeling like there’s some- thing in your vagina when you know there’s nothing there could be symptomatic of an organ prolapse (falling into the vaginal space). A low bladder or cysto- cyle is the most common prolapse but when the supportive structures and connective tissues of the pelvic bowl or vaginal walls are weakened, the bladder, vaginal vault, intestines, rectum, or uterus may shift, fall into, or push on the vaginal wall down and out of the body. 5. Noticing that the cervix is easier to find or lower than it used to be is normal after vaginal childbirth and even during a period, however if it doesn’t resolve within days, it may be a symptom of uterine prolapse. Birth affects the elasticity of the vaginal tissues and organs may press against the vaginal wall and cervix.
6. A feeling of heaviness or pressure in the pelvis may be an-
other indication of prolapse or organs that are out of place. If you are experiencing this, DO NOT ignore this symptom.
7. Feeling discomfort or pain around the vagina or anus when
sitting. This is an experience that can affect women of all ages and should not be considered a normal part of the aging process. By engaging in exercises that balance the pelvic floor muscles, you may be able to easily eliminate the pain.
16. Using splinting during elimination. Women may feel the need to insert a finger in the vagina and push back towards the rec- tum in order to have a complete bowel movement.
17. Feeling a pulling or stretching in the groin area or a persis-
tent low grade backache is an indication of weakened pelvic floor muscles and may be a result of muscles and ligaments either high or low in the pelvic bowl trying to compensate for a weak- ened segment of the pelvic floor. These tissues will work hard to support your internal organs on their own even if they’re not get- ting the help they need from below. 18. Having gas pass from the vagina or having difficulty hold- ing flatulence. This is usually associated with weakened vaginal walls, perineum, rectum and anus. It is usually the result of incor- rect hormone balancing following menopause.
19. Achiness or pain in the abdomen that increases over time when standing. This symptom can be caused by a structural prob- lem such as a prolapsing uterus, vaginal vault, intestine or bladder or may be due to an inflammatory condition such as Vaginitis (bacterial or yeast), Endometriosis, Appendicitis or ruptured ap- pendix, IBS, Colitis, Crohn’s Disease or Diverticulitis, UTI, Pain- ful Bladder Syndrome or Interstitial Cystitis
20. Sitting on one hip because it is too painful to sit on both.
This is a very common issue and indicates that there are muscular spasms that will in- volve the pelvic floor and other muscle groups in the immediate area. The pelvic floor is, however, the key or the center of all the muscular balance in this area. It is essen- tial to get the muscles of the pelvic floor to balance in order to get the hip pain to re- solve.
Note: Pay very close attention to any of the above symptoms