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When you’re having pelvic health problems, it can start to feel like the center of your world. This is because pelvic health problems can touch every area of your life, sometimes in surprising ways.

For example, pelvic health disorders can affect you both at home and at work. They can upset your intimate relationships and social life. They take away your ability to exercise and do other things you love.

Ultimately, these problems can have a huge impact on your mental health. People with issues like pelvic pain and incontinence often have to deal with anxiety and depression. They can start to feel isolated and hopeless.

The good news is that there are answers. At UPMC, we have many ways of treating pelvic floor conditions.

First, let’s explore what’s going on and how to recognize symptoms.

What Is Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?

We use the term dysfunction when something isn’t functioning as it should. In this case, we’re talking about your pelvic floor muscles.

These muscles support your bladder, reproductive organs, and bowels. Together, they form a hammock-like structure. Their functions include:

• Controlling when you pee.
• Controlling your ability to hold bowel movements.
• Playing a role in sexual function.
• Providing support for many different organs.

What Are the Symptoms of Pelvic Issues?

Pelvic floor dysfunction can start out mild and gradually worsen as the muscles get weaker.

You might have:

• Bowel accidents.
• Lower back pain.
• Pain during sex.
• Painful urination.
• Pelvic pain or pressure.
• Problems with urine leaking during exercise or when you sneeze or strain.
• Sudden urges to pee or peeing more frequently.
• The feeling that your vagina is heavy and might fall out.

What Causes Pelvic Health Problems?

Your pelvic floor muscles are strong, but they’re also prone to weakening because of various factors. The opposite can also happen. Sometimes, the muscles become too tight, which also leads to problems.

For women, some of the main causes are:

• Carrying and birthing children.
• Chronic constipation.
• Decreased estrogen from menopause.
• Endometriosis.
• Getting older.
• Obesity.

All people can have pelvic floor problems. For men, prostate issues, including prostate cancer surgery, are often the cause.

What Are the Types of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?

The pelvic health problems we see most often include:

• Bowel problems — This includes constipation and painful bowel movements. Some people with these issues have frequent accidents and can’t make it to the bathroom in time.
• Pelvic pain — This includes pain in your vagina, bladder, or rectum. You might feel pain during sex, and you might also have painful periods.
• Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) — This happens when your pelvic floor struggles to support your organs. It can cause a feeling of pressure in your vagina and that something is falling out.
• Problems with peeing — You may have trouble holding in urine while at rest or when exercising. You may go more than usual or feel unable to completely empty your bladder. You might also have recurring urinary tract infections.

You can have these problems together or have only one of them. For example, some people have pelvic pain but don’t have bladder or bowel issues.

How Do Pelvic Health Problems Affect Your Life?

Pelvic dysfunction can interfere with your life in many ways.

They can make intimacy challenging

If sex is painful, you naturally want to avoid it. You might also feel embarrassment and a sense of betrayal by your body.

You might feel afraid to leave your house

If you’re always worried about having a bathroom accident, you may resort to always staying home. You can start to feel isolated from friends or family.

You might frequently miss work and have a hard time keeping a job

This is especially true with chronic pelvic pain, which affects about 15% of people. It’s associated with absenteeism and loss of productivity at work.

You might have trouble sleeping

Pelvic floor disorders can interfere with your ability to get a good night’s sleep. You might have to pee multiple times a night. The associated anxiety can also wreck sleep.

You might have low back pain

Weak pelvic floor muscles can make lower back pain and hip pain worse. It can affect your core stability and make injury from straining or lifting more likely.

You might feel a stigma

Some people with these problems are reluctant to talk to their doctor. Figuring out which doctor to see can also pose a challenge.

Urogynecologists are doctors with special training in diagnosing and treating pelvic floor disorders in women. They offer a wide range of treatments.

You can experience mood disorders

When life is unpredictable, it can cause deep anxiety. Not feeling able to do the things you love can also cause depression. This can become a cycle for people.

How We Treat Pelvic Floor Problems

Pelvic health problems aren’t inevitable with age or birthing children. If you’re having symptoms, a wide range of treatments can help you feel better, including:

• Medicine — Different types of medicines treat pelvic floor issues. Your doctor might prescribe hormone therapy to increase estrogen. Muscle-relaxing drugs, including Botox®, can help with some bladder issues.
• Pelvic health therapy — Pelvic floor physical therapists have special training in restoring pelvic floor function. A therapist can teach you stretching and strengthening exercises. They also have other treatments to help relax or strengthen muscles.
• Surgery — For some people, surgery is the best option. We use devices like slings to support your pelvic organs. Many of these surgeries are outpatient.
• Therapy — Talking to a trained counselor about what’s going on can help. A good therapist can help you tackle your anxiety and develop coping skills.

If you have pelvic floor disorder symptoms, consider talking to your doctor. Your primary care doctor, gynecologist, or urogynecologist is a good place to start.

Learn more about how we treat pelvic health at UPMC. Know that there is help available. You don’t have to let pelvic problems take over your whole life.