The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments, and tissues that support a woman’s bladder, uterus, urethra, vagina, small bowel, and rectum. When the muscles and tissues weaken or are damaged, it can lead to pelvic floor disorders – a group of common conditions that include:
- Urinary incontinence (lack of bladder control)
- Fecal incontinence (lack of bowel control)
- Pelvic organ prolapse (when one or more of a woman’s pelvic organs drops from its normal position and pushes against the walls of the vagina)
While incontinence and pelvic floor disorders may be uncomfortable to talk about, it’s important to know that these conditions are treatable and, in many cases, curable. You don’t have to live with them or accept them as a normal part of aging.
Causes and Risk Factors for Pelvic Floor Disorders
Urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in women are primarily caused by damage to the pelvic floor muscles, nerves and/or supporting tissues due to pregnancy and childbirth. They may also be related to genetic or congenital (present at birth) conditions that cause weak connective tissues.
You may be at increased risk for developing pelvic floor disorders due to such factors as:
- Aging (pelvic floor muscles can weaken and stretch with age)
- Repeated heavy lifting
- Repeated straining due to chronic constipation
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Chronic cough or sneezing (due to asthma, smoking or allergies, etc.)
- Prior surgery or pelvic radiation
- Menopause
Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Disorders
Common symptoms of a pelvic floor disorder include:
- Involuntarily leaking urine when you cough, sneeze, laugh or exercise
- Not making it to the toilet in time to urinate
- A constant urge to urinate
- Difficulty emptying your bladder or bowel
- Accidentally losing control of your bladder or bowel
- Pain in the pelvic area
- Painful sexual intercourse
- Accidentally passing gas
- Prolapse (a bulge or feeling of heaviness/pulling in the vagina)
Treating Pelvic Floor Disorders
Most pelvic floor disorders can be reversed with treatment. Because these conditions vary in degree of severity from woman to woman, and have different causes, treatment can range from simple lifestyle changes to more complex surgery. The treatment options include:
Nonsurgical treatments
- Pelvic floor physical therapy: Includes biofeedback and exercises (including Kegel exercises) to relax and strengthen the muscles in the lower pelvis
- Bladder injections: Bulking agents are injected near the bladder neck and urethra to help narrow the bladder opening and reduce leakage
- Medications: May be prescribed to treat certain bladder control problems or to prevent loose stools or frequent bowel movements
- Vaginal pessary: A small device is inserted into the vagina to support the pelvic organs; it is used to treat some types of prolapse and improve bladder control
Surgical treatments
Surgery may be appropriate for certain pelvic floor disorders that cannot be otherwise effectively treated. Some women may require a combination of both nonsurgical and surgical treatments if they are dealing with more than one type of pelvic floor disorder.
Using minimally invasive techniques, some surgical treatments can be performed as outpatient procedures.
- For prolapse: Repairs a prolapse and rebuilds pelvic floor support using a variety of surgical techniques
- For urinary incontinence: Helps reposition and support the bladder to prevent leaks
- For bowel incontinence: Repairs a damaged anal sphincter muscle or corrects certain types of prolapse
Experts in Female Pelvic Medicine
A medical subspecialty called urogynecology – now called reconstructive pelvic surgery – focuses on these disorders. At Cooper, our highly trained doctors are skilled and compassionate in talking to women about these types of problems and offer advanced diagnostics and personalized treatment plans to improve their quality of life.
Why Choose Cooper to Diagnose and Treat Pelvic Floor Disorders
Cooper University Health Care is home to a comprehensive urogynecology program that is on the forefront of care for pelvic floor disorders. Our team of fellowship-trained urogynecologists offers today’s most advanced diagnostic and treatment services, delivered in a caring, sensitive manner:
- If you need surgery, we have the region’s only robotic surgery program for treating pelvic floor disorders—a minimally invasive approach that results in faster recovery, reduced pain and minimal scarring
- We have the region’s only pelvic floor physical therapy (PT) program, a specialized form of rehabilitation that focuses on restoring optimal function to the pelvic floor
- We are involved in teaching the next generation of urogynecologists through a respected fellowship program—testament to the high level of clinical expertise available here
- Our urogynecologists are involved in leading-edge research, giving you access to the latest knowledge and advances in treating pelvic floor disorders
Schedule an Appointment
To learn more about diagnosing and treating pelvic floor disorders at Cooper or to schedule an appointment with one of our experts, please call 800.8.COOPER (800.826.6737).