What Is a Pelvic Floor Disorder?
A pelvic floor disorder affects the function of the pelvic muscles and organs. It can include symptoms such as bulging organs (prolapse) and urinary leakage (incontinence).
A person’s risk of pelvic floor disorders can increase with age, pregnancy, childbirth and chronic constipation.
Where Is the Pelvic Floor in a Female?
Your pelvic floor is made of muscles, ligaments, and connective tissue. It supports the organs in your lower pelvis. These organs include your bladder, uterus, and rectum. Pelvic floor muscles relax and tighten to help you go to the bathroom. They are constantly engaged in some way to provide support.
How Common Are Pelvic Floor Disorders?
Pelvic floor problems can cause embarrassment and discomfort, which interrupt your daily life. If you have a pelvic floor disorder, you’re not alone. Pelvic floor disorders in women are extremely common:
- 1 in 3 adult women will experience urine leakage (incontinence)
- 1 in 3 women will have symptoms of prolapse
LARGEST UROGYNECOLOGY GROUP
in the Mountain West
MORE THAN 500
minimally invasive surgeries performed each year
IMPROVING PATIENT OUTCOMES
with groundbreaking pelvic floor research
Why Choose University of Utah Health?
Urogynecologists at U of U Health are dedicated to finding a solution for your pelvic floor concerns. As the largest urogynecology group in the Mountain West, we use effective, evidence-based treatments to relieve your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Our pelvic floor disorders care team brings together the collaborative expertise of specialists multiple areas to work together on bladder and pelvic floor issues:
- Obstetrics & gynecology
- Urogynecology
- Pelvic floor physical therapy
- Urology
- Colon & rectal surgery
- Gastroenterology
The Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery are also leaders in the pelvic floor research field. Our researchers have a long history of conducting high-impact pelvic floor research that has helped establish evidence-based guidelines for our field and improve patient outcomes.
Best Urogynecologist Near Me
Pelvic Floor Symptoms In Females
Pelvic floor symptoms may cause discomfort and embarrassment. Talk to our urogynecologists if you experience the following symptoms:
- Bulge in your pelvic area
- Urinary leakage with a cough or sneeze
- Urgent need to urinate frequently
- Difficulty or straining to go to the bathroom
- Stool leakage
Pelvic Floor Health Issues We Treat
Urogynecologists at U of U Health treat many pelvic floor conditions:
- Incontinence—Leaking urine or stool (feces)
- Pelvic organ prolapse—Organs bulge outside of the vaginal opening
- Postpartum pelvic floor complications (and prepartum)
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Treatment
Treatment for urinary leakage varies depending on the type. Stress urinary leakage happens during physical activity, such as jumping or sneezing. Urge urinary leakage occurs when you have a strong and sudden urge to urinate. Some people may have both types.
Finding the right treatment can reduce your symptoms. It can also help you feel more confident. Your choice of treatment is personal. Talk with your urogynecologist to discover the right treatment for your goals.
-
Lifestyle changes—Adjusting the amount of fluids and the time you drink them can help with incontinence.
-
Pelvic floor physical therapy—Exercises that strengthen your pelvic floor muscles can improve bladder control and pelvic floor support.
-
Pessary—A silicone ring in your vagina lifts and supports the urethra and prolapsed (bulging) organs. This can help with incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
-
Botox injections—Botox treats urgency incontinence and urethral bulking can help with symptoms of stress incontinence
-
Sling—A surgeon places a mesh or tissue sling under the urethra for support to prevent leaks.
-
Prolapse surgery—Surgeons can reconstruct the pelvic floor after prolapse.
Make an Appointment With a Urogynecologist
Call 801-213-2995 to make an appointment. We recommend contacting your insurance company to understand your coverage. Many patients can contact us directly with a self-referral. However, some insurance companies require a physician referral to see a urogynecologist.
Resources for Our Patients
When Should You See a Urogynecologist?
Do you have trouble with an overactive bladder, feel pressure in your pelvis, or feel like your vagina, bladder, uterus, or rectum has dropped, causing a bulge or pressure? You do not have to suffer through these symptoms. They are treatable.
5 for Life Screenings
A big part of staying healthy is detecting diseases early. We make it easy for you to get lifesaving tests for heart disease, breast cancer, cervical cancer, skin cancer, and colon cancer in one convenient visit.
Postpartum and Pelvic Floor Complications
As a mother-to-be or a new mom, there’s a lot you are juggling – life with a new baby, lack of sleep, breastfeeding, and adapting to other changes to your body. Our new clinic for postpartum (after childbirth) pelvic floor problems at University of Utah Health is specifically designed to address pelvic floor issues that may occur before or after childbirth.
Learn More About Pelvic Floor Disorders from a Urogynecologist
Hear From Our Specialists
Overactive Bladder in Women: Symptoms, Treatments, and How to Take Back Control
If frequent bathroom trips disrupt your life, you are not alone. Women's health expert Kirtly Jones, MD, talks to urogynecologist Whitney Hendrickson, MD...
