Conditions and Management

Pregnancy and giving birth change women’s bodies in many ways, but it is not always obvious which effects will improve with time and which need to be addressed by professionals. Many women believe that problems like pelvic pain, leakage, or other issues are simply part of giving birth and do not mention them to their doctor. This is unfortunate because these are all issues that can often be solved with pelvic floor therapy.

What Is The Pelvic Floor?

The pelvic floor can be thought of as being like a hammock that holds several important elements of the body in place.

The pelvic floor is responsible for the following key areas:

Support

The pelvic floor has collections of connective tissues, ligaments, bones, and muscles that hold everything in place structurally, such as when your body supports a baby growing inside of it.

Sexual

This area encompasses arousal, lubrication, penetration, pain syndromes, nerve impingement, and vulvar care.

Sphincter

The pelvic floor is responsible for the circular muscles that control gas and help to hold in waste.

Lymphatics

Lymphatics are responsible for pumping and regulating the flow of fluids throughout the entire body.

The pelvic floor is extremely important to women’s health. In fact, in some countries, it is officially recognized as a medically necessary aspect of postpartum healing and women are routinely given advice and instructions on strengthening their pelvic floor after giving birth.

What Is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?

Pelvic floor physical therapy is a type of treatment aimed at addressing weakness, pain, and dysfunction in the pelvic floor muscles. It involves performing techniques and movements that have proven effective in addressing pelvic floor dysfunction.

Who Needs Postpartum Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?

Many first-time moms do not realize which aspects of their postpartum experience are normal and which ones require additional attention. However, even typical postpartum symptoms can be improved by physical therapy. These include pelvic and tailbone pain, bowel and urinary incontinence, leakage of urine when coughing, sneezing or laughing that does not improve, and diastasis recti, or the separation of abdominal muscles.

Another problem that can be helped by postpartum pelvic floor physical therapy is pain during intercourse. Because many women wait to have sex until after getting the go-ahead from their doctor at their six-week or eight-week postpartum checkup, they will not know if they are experiencing pain during intercourse until after their appointment. Many are unlikely to follow up if things don’t improve.

Postpartum sex can vary significantly from person to person, although most women report experiencing some sort of sexual problem within their first three months after giving birth. For some, it will improve as they try again and continue to heal, but for others, it may not get better.

Some of the problems in a vaginal birth that can make penetration painful include tears and episiotomies that create tightness due to scar tissue. Scars from C-sections can also feel uncomfortable and tight. A few sessions of pelvic floor therapy can help correct these issues.

Do Women Who Have Had C-Sections Need Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?

It is important to keep in mind that a C-section is a type of abdominal surgery, and like all surgeries, it requires adequate rehabilitation to get back to normal. Because the doctor separates the rectus abdominis muscle to deliver the baby, there is a risk of scar tissue immobility that can lead to feelings of tension near the incision as the body heals and normal activities like lifting and squatting are resumed. A pelvic floor physical therapist can teach women the proper ways to move and lift items to ease strain and promote healing.

How Long Does Pelvic Floor Treatment Take?

The length of time needed for a successful course of pelvic floor physical therapy varies depending on the woman, her age, and the condition being addressed. However, for many women, problems like urinary incontinence and diastasis recti can be addressed with seven to eight visits, while tailbone or pelvic pain may take longer to correct.

What Happens If You Don’t Treat Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?

Getting pelvic floor therapy may be the last thing on your mind after having a baby. Life is hectic enough in those early days, and the thought of fitting sessions in around sleep schedules and feeding a baby while juggling going back to work and childcare can be daunting.

However, it is worth taking the time for self-care to address the issue as soon as possible. Scar tissue can build up over time and pull or restrict normal organ movement within the body, causing adhesions to the bladder or bowel that can affect your ability to go to the bathroom normally.

Get in Touch With Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness

If you are experiencing any postpartum issues or symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, reach out to Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness today. Our women’s healthcare professionals can provide a diagnosis and discuss treatment options to help you regain normal functioning and restore your pelvic floor.

Our pelvic floor muscles are prone to dysfunction, particularly as we age. These muscles, which stretch from the pubic bone to the tailbone, work hard to support the bowel, bladder, and uterus. However, there are lots of factors that can work against them, such as lifting too much weight, forcing too much while on the toilet, chronic coughing, performing high-impact exercise, gaining weight, giving birth, or simply getting older.

If you are experiencing any type of pelvic floor disorder, pelvic floor therapy can help you restore normal function. Much like traditional physical therapy, this involves working with a therapist to perform movements aimed at speeding recovery. However, you will also be instructed to perform certain movements and exercises at home.

Exercises For Pelvic Floor Therapy At Home

Before you begin any pelvic floor exercise routine, it is best to check with your doctor or physical therapist to make sure you are performing the right movements. With that in mind, here is a rundown of the types of exercises you may be advised to perform by your pelvic floor therapist.

The first exercise you can try involves lying on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. From this position, you need to lift your knees toward your chest. To do this, you should place your hands behind both of your knees and draw them to your chest while separating them. Hold this position for 30 seconds and then repeat two more times.

The next move also begins with you lying on your back with your knees bent. Cross the ankle of the leg you are going to stretch over the opposite knee and then put your arm around your thigh. Bring the thigh toward your stomach until you can feel stretching in your buttocks. Hold this position for 30 seconds and then repeat twice before moving on to perform the entire stretch on the other side.

For the next exercise, get into a crawling position and push your bottom toward your feet with your head resting against the floor and your arms extended forward. Keep your hands on the floor and inhale, allowing your pelvic floor muscles to stretch. This stretch should be held for two to three minutes.

The next movement begins in a seated position. Sit with one leg bent toward your chest and crossed across the opposite leg. Then, using your arm, pull the bent knee toward the opposite shoulder. Be sure to keep your back straight throughout the movement; you should feel stretching behind your thigh as well as in your buttocks. Hold this position for 30 seconds and repeat it three times. Then, repeat all of the steps with the other side of your body. This stretch should be done three to four times per day.

For the next move, you need to lie face down. Push yourself up with both of your hands positioned at shoulder height, straightening your elbows, and lifting your upper trunk until you notice a stretching feeling in your abdomen. Hold this stretch for 10 seconds, making sure your legs and pelvis remain relaxed throughout the movement, and then repeat three times.

The next move should be performed lying down on a firm bed or a table. Lie on your back with your legs dangling over the side and place your hands behind one knee and draw it toward your chest. While you are pulling the knee inward, stretch your opposite leg toward the floor. Hold this stretch for 30 seconds and then repeat two more times. Then, perform the same movements on the other side.

For the next move, stand up with your legs astride and straight. Then, bend one of your legs and put your hands on the knee of the bent leg. Continue to bend, placing weight on the leg until you feel stretching inside your thigh and on the straight leg. Hold this position for 30 seconds and repeat two times before moving on to stretch the other leg.

Diaphragm Breathing

Another important exercise your physical therapist may recommend for pelvic floor therapy at home is diaphragm breathing. To do this, lie down on your back on a firm bed or table with your knees bent and both of your hands resting on the upper part of your stomach.

Breathe in slowly through your nose and then exhale slowly through your mouth. Every time you inhale, the hands on your stomach should rise; each time you exhale, your hands should go down. Practice this three times per day for five minutes at a time.

Get In Touch With Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness

Pelvic floor dysfunction can be a frustrating problem, but pelvic floor therapy is highly effective for many women. To find out more about pelvic floor therapy at home and the right treatment options to help you restore normal function, make an appointment today with the women’s healthcare team at Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness.

Nearly a quarter of all women will experience some form of pelvic floor dysfunction at some point in their life, whether it is urinary or fecal incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse and related conditions. Nearly half of these women will start to notice uncomfortable symptoms by the time they are in their 60s.

Although pelvic floor dysfunction is relatively common, you should not dismiss it as a normal part of aging that needs to be accepted. Pelvic floor dysfunction is often treatable with pelvic floor therapy, a very effective approach that has helped many women restore normal function.

Here is a look at what doctors want women to know about pelvic floor therapy.

What Is The Pelvic Floor?

First, it is important to understand the anatomy involved in pelvic floor therapy. In short, the pelvic floor consists of the muscles supporting the vagina, uterus, rectum, and bladder. These muscles play a role in a woman’s sexual health and can be weakened by childbirth as well as age-related hormonal changes.

Second, when the pelvic muscles weaken to the point that they can no longer offer adequate support and control, women may experience urinary or fecal leakage. Another issue that may arise is prolapse, which occurs when the vagina and other organs in the pelvis drop into the vaginal opening.

How Can You Tell If You Need Pelvic Floor Therapy?

Some of the more common symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction include difficulty emptying the bowels during bowel movements, the feeling of a vaginal bulge, and urinary and fecal incontinence. Another potential sign of prolapse is the sensation that something is falling out of your vagina.

Women are urged to report these symptoms to their doctors when they become bothersome or start to interfere with their quality of life because these conditions are highly treatable for most women.

Many doctors report that women tend to minimize their symptoms and dismiss them as a normal part of life. For example, some women may tell themselves that experiencing pain during intercourse is normal or that leaking urine is not that unusual, while others may dismiss changes in their body because they have recently had a baby. However, many of these problems can be corrected with the right treatment and support.

What Happens If You Do Not Get Pelvic Floor Therapy?

Problems like incontinence and leakage may be annoying, but they are not life-threatening, prompting many women to believe that they can skip pelvic floor therapy. Although avoiding treatment is unlikely to have a negative impact on your health, it is important to understand that these problems can worsen over time. This can create additional damage and discomfort that could make it harder to enjoy daily activities and may mean that it will be more difficult to correct when you do seek help.

What Does Pelvic Floor Therapy Entail?

In pelvic floor physical therapy, women are guided through pelvic floor muscle relaxation, coordination, and strengthening exercises aimed at treating tightness, weakness, and other problems. The goal is to retain the normal strength and tone of the pelvic floor muscles so that they are able to once again support and control normal urination, sexual function, and bowel movements.

This therapy is carried out in a private treatment room with a pelvic floor therapist on a one-on-one basis. The therapist can provide different exercises, techniques, and other therapeutic modalities to address your unique symptoms. You will also be provided with advice on exercises and equipment that can be used at home to help you progress.

Who Should Get Pelvic Floor Therapy?

Pelvic floor physical therapy is often the first course of treatment for women who are experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction such as prolapse, incontinence, and painful intercourse because it is minimally invasive and can be very effective.

How Long Does It Take?

The recommended course of treatment depends on each individual’s specific diagnosis, goals, and the severity of their problem, but one weekly visit across eight weeks is a common course of pelvic floor physical therapy treatment. For some women, it may take longer to return to their ideal level of functioning.

Recovery is a very individual process, and it will take place at different speeds for different women. Women will usually notice improvements after a few pelvic floor therapy sessions. If they do not notice any changes, the therapist can make adjustments to help them.

For many women, pelvic floor therapy can change their lives dramatically, whether it means returning to their favorite sport, being able to start a family, or simply making it through each day without experiencing incontinence.

Learn More About Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

If you are experiencing painful intercourse, incontinence, or any other symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse or dysfunction, contact Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness to schedule your appointment.

If you are experiencing some form of pelvic floor dysfunction, your doctor may have recommended that you undergo pelvic floor therapy. This treatment can help women who have pelvic floor muscle weakness or tightness and related problems that impact their sexual function, bowel movements, and urination.

Whether the problem is due to childbirth, aging, stress, or other factors, pelvic floor physical therapy is a minimally invasive treatment that can help women with urinary or fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, or painful intercourse.

Pelvic floor therapy is similar to the type of physical therapy people undergo to recover from a sports injury; the main difference is the area being targeted. However, it may be helpful to have a clear idea of what to expect when you go to your pelvic floor therapy sessions. Here is a look at the typical procedure for pelvic floor therapy treatment.

Your First Visit

At your first visit, you will be evaluated to assess your condition and develop a treatment plan. You will normally have to fill out some paperwork related to your insurance and medical history. When your appointment begins, a therapist will take you into a private room for your therapy.

In the Examination Room

At the beginning of your first visit, you will have a short conversation with your therapist about your reasons for needing therapy. Depending on the problems you are experiencing, you may need to discuss the amount of pain you feel during activities such as sexual intercourse or using tampons, how many times you go to the bathroom eachr day, your eating and drinking habits, and other details.

You may then undergo an evaluation that involves moving your body around to see if your hips, back, or core may be playing a role in your pelvic floor condition.

There may also be an internal exam. Many clinics give you the option of having another person present during the internal examination, whether it is someone you have brought with you for support or another clinic worker. You may also decline to have another person present or decline the internal exam altogether. Although the internal exam can provide the therapist with a clearer picture of your condition, you will still receive treatment if you decide against it.

For the internal exam, you will undress from the waist down and cover yourself with provided sheets. The therapist may ask you to perform functions such as bearing down, coughing, or Kegels, which involve squeezing your vaginal muscles like you would to stop the flow of urine. The therapist may also feel around externally to identify any tight spots such as muscle knots.

If you agree, they might also insert a gloved and lubricated finger to internally assess your muscles. You may be asked to perform another Kegel so they can assess your strength and endurance.

The internal exam is important because women have three layers to their pelvic floor. Different exercises can be used to target and strengthen the specific layers of concern for more effective treatment. However, you can also describe your symptoms to your therapist in detail if you do not wish to undergo the pelvic internal examination.

Then, you will be asked to get dressed and prepare for the rest of the appointment. Your therapist will then assess the muscles and joints in your back and hips. This may involve seeing how you move with flexibility and range-of-motion testing and determining your strength using manual muscle testing.

The results of this assessment will be used to draft your plan of care and determine how often you need to visit for treatment. You may also be provided with some exercises to perform at home that will bring you closer to your goals.

During Follow-Up Sessions

During your subsequent pelvic floor therapy sessions, the focus will be on treating your symptoms. This will usually entail treatments such as exercises, manual therapy, and relaxation techniques. In some cases, electronic therapies may be used. For example, biofeedback, which entails applying small and painless electrodes to the areas being treated, can improve bladder function. Lifestyle modifications and advice may also be provided.

There may be some discomfort during some parts of treatment, but it should not be painful. However, you may be asked during your assessment to reproduce your pain symptoms. For example, if you feel pain in your lower back when you bend over, the physiotherapist may need to ask you to bend over so they can assess how your back is moving and what could be causing your pain. This should not aggravate your symptoms or create additional pain after your session.

You might also experience some mild discomfort while performing prescribed exercises at home, but they should not be painful.

Reach Out to the Women’s Healthcare Team

Initiating pelvic floor therapy early can help stop symptoms from getting worse and allow you to return to your normal lifestyle more quickly. If you are noticing symptoms that interfere with your daily functioning, including pain during intercourse, pelvic organ prolapse, or incontinence, reach out to the women’s healthcare team at Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness today.

When one or more of the organs in the pelvis area slips down from its regular position and bulges into the vagina, it is known as pelvic organ prolapse. This typically affects the uterus, but it may also occur with the bladder or bowels. Although it is not a life-threatening condition, it can lead to pain and discomfort.

Pregnancy and childbirth, menopause, aging, being overweight, chronic coughing or constipation, and heavy lifting can all weaken the pelvic floor and raise your chances of developing pelvic organ prolapse.

If your doctor has diagnosed you with pelvic organ prolapse or you suspect you may have it, you may be wondering how it can be addressed. Here is a look at the treatment options that are available for pelvic organ prolapse.

Treatments For Pelvic Organ Prolapse

There are many treatment options available for pelvic organ prolapse. The right choice will depend on the type of prolapse you are experiencing, the severity of your symptoms, and your age and health. Your doctor will also take into account whether you intend to have children in the future when determining the right course of treatment. In some cases, you may not need any treatment if you are not experiencing pain or discomfort and your prolapse is only mild.

Lifestyle Changes

Women who are experiencing mild prolapse may be able to get relief and prevent their prolapse from worsening by making some simple lifestyle changes. These approaches are also useful as preventive measures if you are concerned about developing prolapse in the future.

Improving Your Diet

Consuming a diet that is high in fiber and drinking plenty of fluids can help to avoid constipation, which is one common cause or contributing factor to pelvic organ prolapse. Women who experience regular constipation or strain frequently during bowel movements should increase their intake of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans to ensure adequate fiber intake.

Avoid Lifting Heavy Objects

Another important way to prevent pelvic organ prolapse is by avoiding lifting heavy objects. If you use weight training as part of your exercise routine, make sure you are using appropriate weights for your body and that you are following proper lifting form. If you must lift something heavy, such as for work or while moving, do so with your legs and not your waist or back.

Lose Weight

Being overweight or obese raises your chances of experiencing uterine prolapse. Therefore, if you are not currently at a healthy weight, take steps to shed some pounds. Improving your diet and exercising regularly are great ways to work toward your ideal weight.

Pelvic Floor Exercises

Pelvic floor exercises such as Kegels can be used to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and provide relief. Your doctor may suggest that you undergo a program of supervised pelvic floor muscle training, or you may be able to carry out these exercises on your own.

Hormone Treatment

Women who have already gone through menopause and are experiencing mild prolapse may be able to ease some of their symptoms with estrogen. It is particularly useful for addressing discomfort during sex or vaginal dryness related to prolapse. It can be used as a cream, suppository, or estrogen-releasing vaginal ring.

Pessaries

A pessary is a device made out of silicone or latex that can be inserted into the vagina in order to support the vaginal walls and pelvic organs. A pessary can ease the symptoms of a moderate or severe prolapse and are often used by women who do not wish to undergo surgery. They are also the right choice for those who intend to get pregnant in the future.

A gynecologist will fit your pessary. They come in different sizes and types, and it may take some trial and error to find the right one for you. Pessaries need to be removed, cleaned, and replaced on a regular basis.

Surgery

For severe prolapse or cases where nonsurgical options are not providing relief, surgery may be necessary to correct pelvic organ prolapse. There are surgical repair procedures that can lift and support the pelvic organs, such as stitching them into place or strengthening existing tissues. Some women may have an operation that closes part or all of the vagina, although this treatment is only appropriate for those with advanced and severe prolapse that has not been helped by other treatments and who are certain they do not wish to have sex again in the future.

Talk To The Women’s Health Care Team

If you would like to find out more about treatment options for pelvic organ prolapse, get in touch with the women’s health care team at Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness. We can guide you toward the most effective lifestyle changes for you and explore additional treatments depending on the severity of your prolapse.