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Pelvic Floor Definition

Laughing, exertion and coughing can cause you to accidentally leak urine or feces. Leaking is a sign that you have a pelvic floor disorder. There are three common types of pelvic floor disorders. More women than men suffer from pelvic floor disorders. More than half of women age 55 and older, in fact, suffer from a problem related to pelvic floor dysfunction.

  1. Identification

    • The term "pelvic floor" is used to describe a network of ligaments, muscles and other tissues that hold up the organs of your pelvis. The pelvic muscles work with the tissues that surround them to keep all the pelvic organs in place so that the organs can perform their functions properly.

    Function

    • The pelvic floor specifically helps the urethra and rectum. The pelvic floor keeps these organs healthy so that urine, for example, does not leak when you cough or laugh. The muscles of the pelvic floor are also responsible for the amount of sensations you feel during sexual intercourse. Rhythmic contractions of the pelvic floor help women in particular to become aroused and achieve orgasm.

    Considerations

    • If laughing or any kind of physical exertion or coughing causes you to accidentally leak, you may have a pelvic floor disorder. These leaks are indications that your pelvic floor muscles have become overly stretched or damaged and are weak and injured as a result. The National Institutes of Health report that one out of every three American women develops pelvic floor disorder. Pelvic floor disorders can be the result of radiation treatments, pelvic surgery, pregnancy or vaginal child delivery.

    Types

    • There are three common types of pelvic floor disorders. A pelvic organ prolapse occurs when your pelvic muscles and tissues become so weak that they cannot hold the pelvic organs in place. Urinary incontinence happens when urine leaks out of your bladder. Men are particularly at risk for this pelvic floor disorder after they have prostate cancer. Anal incontinence is when your rectum (which stores feces) becomes so large that it is difficult to control bowel movements. Constipation, rectal pain, pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction are other types of pelvic floor disorders.

    Significance

    • According to University of Southern California Center for Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disorders, more than half of women age 55 and older suffer from a problem related to pelvic floor dysfunction. One in nine women will have to undergo surgery to treat a pelvic floor disorder. Thirty percent of women who have urinary incontinence or overactive bladders and 20 percent of women who suffer from vaginal organ prolapse will also experience loss of bowel control. Sixty percent of nursing home residents suffer from urinary incontinence and/or loss of bowel control.

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