By current estimations, approximately a third of adult women worldwide have fallen victim to pelvic floor dysfunction, with 30 percent of these women undergoing surgery to fix the problem. Pelvic floor dysfunction is primarily caused by too much or too little tension in your pelvic floor muscles and usually results in constipation, urinary incontinence, severe pain during sex, or pain in the rectum, lower back, groin, or pelvic area. This article reviews when you might need to get pelvic floor therapy in Boca Raton.
What is Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?
Pelvic floor dysfunction is a medical condition that reduces your ability to control your pelvic muscles. The muscles that make up your pelvic floor are responsible for controlling your bowel movements, urination, and sexual intercourse (in women). When you have pelvic floor dysfunction, pelvic muscles contract forcefully, causing you to experience discomfort during bowel movements or even severe long-term colon damage if left untreated.
Pelvic floor dysfunction can also manifest as insufficient tension in your pelvic muscles. This can result in urinary incontinence, among other problems.
Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
If you have pelvic floor dysfunction, you may experience several symptoms that might include:
- Muscle spasms in the pelvic region
- Excessive pressure in your rectum or pelvic area
- Severe lower back pains
- Abnormal urges to urinate or painful urination
- Constipation
- Discomfort in your genitals, pelvic area, or rectum
- Pain during sexual intercourse in women
What Causes Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?
While continuous research is still being carried out to determine the primary causes of pelvic floor dysfunction, the most common causes include menopause, obesity, and pregnancy. Genetics also play a huge role in the risk of a woman developing the condition as some women are genetically predisposed to have naturally weaker connective tissue and fascia.
Other factors closely linked to pelvic floor dysfunction include:
- Pelvic surgery
- Serious nerve damage
- Severe injury or trauma to the pelvic area
How is Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Diagnosed?
During the diagnosis of your pelvic floor dysfunction, your doctor may carry out the following tests to examine the strength of your pelvic muscles:
- A review of your medical history
- Perform a physical evaluation to check for muscle knots and spasms
- Check your pelvic muscle control and contractions
- Use a perineometer to view your vagina or rectum internally
Your doctor may also opt for a minimally invasive option, where electrodes will be placed on your perineum to examine how your pelvic muscles relax and contract.
Treatment Options for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
The most common treatment for pelvic floor dysfunction is biofeedback. In this treatment procedure, the doctor will examine how you contract and relax your pelvic muscles through special sensors. There are, however, other treatment options that include:
- Medication: Your doctor may prescribe medical relaxants to reduce your pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms.
- Self-care: Common self-medication techniques include relaxation exercises such as yoga or taking warm water baths that have proven useful in relaxing the pelvic floor muscles and improving blood circulation.
- Surgeries: For severe pelvic floor dysfunction cases, surgery is highly recommended.
Conclusion
Pelvic floor dysfunction can be very painful and can induce feelings of embarrassment. However, it is very treatable. If you fear you might have pelvic floor dysfunction, consult the women’s pelvic floor dysfunction specialists at MyDoc Women’s Health Specialists. With their wealth of experience in pelvic floor dysfunction cases, you can be assured of viable and effective treatment solutions.
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