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Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic Pain Illustration

Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) refers to a wide variety of problems that occur when the pelvic floor muscles become too weak, too tight or misaligned. Contributing factors in the development of PFD include obesity, childbirth, menopause and chronic pelvic pain conditions, such as endometriosis. Women with PFD can experience a range of symptoms and dysfunctions, including pelvic organ prolapse, bladder and bowel dysfunction and incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and chronic pelvic pain. The specific symptoms will differ depending on the nature of the patient’s PFD. For example, a patient with weakening of the pelvic floor muscles, such as following childbirth, may experience prolapse and incontinence issues, whereas a patient with tightening of the pelvic floor muscles, such as in response to chronic pelvic pain, may experience difficulties and pain on emptying her bowels and bladder and pain during sexual intercourse.

At Vital Health we routinely assess patients for PFD during an in-office pelvic exam and our pelvic physical therapist, Denise Alberto, is specialized in treating women with a range of disorders affecting the pelvic floor muscles.

Further reading

Treating Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Women with Endometriosis & Other Pelvic Pain Conditions

Summary
Article Name
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Description
Those with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction may experience difficulties and pain on emptying the bowels and bladder and pain during sexual intercourse.