In this guide from SoHo Men’s Health, we explain the symptoms and causes of pelvic floor dysfunction.
What Is Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?
The pelvic organs include the bladder, prostate, and rectum. In the human body the pelvic floor is a group of muscles and ligaments that support the pelvic organs. The pelvic floor muscles are found between the tailbone and the pubic bone within the pelvis.
Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is a common condition that refers to a broad set of symptoms and anatomic changes related to abnormal coordination of the pelvic floor muscles. With PFD, the patient is unable to correctly relax and coordinate the muscles of their pelvic floor to urinate or to have a bowel movement.
What Are The Common Symptoms Of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?
- Erectile dysfunction (ED): The inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex.
- Constipation: Chronic constipation, infrequent bowel movements, or difficulty passing stools that persists for a long period of time, usually weeks. With this condition, the stools can be dry and lumpy, making them hard to pass. Constipation is characterized as having fewer than three bowel movements a week.
- Urinary retention: Urinary retention is the inability to pass all the urine in your bladder. If you have this symptom, please be advised to seek immediate medical attention.
- Urinary tract infection: A UTI is an infection in any part of the urinary system, which includes the kidneys and bladder.
- Urinary incontinence: This condition is characterized by the loss of bladder control. Some patients will partially urinate, while other patients simply can not urinate at all.
- Fecal incontinence: Fecal incontinence is the inability to control bowel movements, causing stool to leak spontaneously from the rectum. This condition ranges from an occasional leakage of stool while passing gas to a complete loss of bowel control.
What Are The Risk Factors For Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?
- Genetics. Hereditary factors can affect muscles and connective tissue.
- An injury to the pelvis. Pelvic floor dysfunction can occur when the muscles of the pelvic area are injured. This injury can be caused by a car accident or fall.
- Surgery in the pelvic area. Having pelvic surgery or radiation treatments can also potentially cause PFD.
- Aging. Changes in hormones may lead to weaker or stiffer muscles in the pelvic floor.
- Being overweight or obese. Body fat can press down on the pelvic organs and can result in difficulty controlling the release of urine, stools, or gas.
- Bathroom frequency. Using the bathroom constantly, or straining too hard when going to the bathroom can result in PFD.
- Physical activities. Extreme exercises that increase the tension in pelvic floor muscles can make symptoms worse. These types of exercises include lifting heavy weights.
What Are Treatments Available for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?
If you have any of the aforementioned symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, consult a medical professional and get a proper diagnosis. SoHo Men’s Health in New York offers a vast number of resources for patients experiencing PFD. Dr. Kerem H. Bortecen proudly treats patients with:
- PFD therapy. This therapy consists of manual techniques, exercise programs, diet and activity modification, and education to break the cycle of muscle tension and tissue restriction.
- EmSella: is a modern non-surgical technology that uses electromagnetic technology to enhance the pelvic floor muscles by delivering the equivalent of 12,000 Kegel exercises to the pelvic floor muscles in about half an hour. In doing so, this treatment can rebuild these muscles in order to effectively treat incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and premature ejaculation.
If you’re ready to live life without the symptoms of PFD, pelvic pain, or urinary incontinence, consider SoHo Men’s Health, the first men’s health and wellness experience in New York City. SoHo Men’s Health is proud to offer a number of treatments for cosmetic rejuvenation, as well as sexual and reproductive health services for men. Call 347-749-1174 to ask how we can help you meet your health, wellness, and aesthetic goals today.
