Pelvic Floor Disorders

Pelvic Floor Disorders

“The onset of menopause can cause your pelvic floor muscles – just like the rest of the muscles in your body – to weaken. These muscles support the pelvic organs…”.1

Umbrella

What may the Pelvic Floor Disorders Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Cystocele
  • Enterocele
  • Pelvic Floor Disorder (PFD)
  • Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP)
  • Pelvic Prolapse
  • Pelvic Support Problems
  • Prolapse
  • Rectocele
  • Weak Pelvic Floor

Pelvic Floor Disorder

What is a pelvic floor disorder (PFD)?

DotS the definition of a PFD may vary. In What Women Need To Know About Their Pelvic Floor: What Are Pelvic Floor Disorders? the (United States) FDA’s Office of Women’s Health (Food and Drug Administration) definition is:

“Pelvic floor disorders (PFD) occur when the muscles or tissues of the pelvic area become weakened or injured. This can happen because of childbirth, obesity, age, genetics, and other factors. These conditions affect approximately 1 in 4 women at some point in their lives. Some common PFDs to be aware of include:

  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse
  • urinary Incontinence (UI)
  • Fecal Incontinence
  • Pelvic Pain”.2

Pelvic Floor

What is the pelvic floor?

DotS the definition of the pelvic floor may vary. In What Women Need To Know About Their Pelvic Floor: Where Is the Pelvic Floor and Why Does It Matter for Women? the FDA’s Office of Women’s Health definition is:

“The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and tissues that support important organs like the bladder, urethra, anus—and in women—the uterus, cervix, and vagina. These muscles help keep the pelvic organs in place and sustain bladder and bowel control. These muscles also help maintain sexual function. When the muscles of the pelvic floor become weak, tight, or don’t work properly, pelvic floor disorders (PFD) may occur”.3
Pelvic Floor Disorders

Cause

What causes PFDs?

In What Are PFDs? What Causes PFDs? (United States) Voices for PFD explain:

“In general, a pelvic floor disorder is due to weakened pelvic muscles or tears in the connective tissue. A damaged pelvic floor cannot continue to provide the support that your organs need to work effectively. As this structure weakens, normal functioning of the bowel, bladder, uterus, vagina, and rectum can be affected.

There are many causes of PFDs. In addition, research is ongoing. Some of the reasons women develop PFDs are better understood than other reasons. There is a strong need for continued research in this field. The PFD Research Foundation funds researchers and clinical scientists looking for the answers”.4

Common or Not

How common are PFDs?

In What Are PFDs? Am I At Risk? Voices for PFD note:

“One out of four women (25%) 20 years or older suffer with PFDs. Most struggle with one or more PFDs—POP, urinary incontinence (UI), and fecal incontinence (FI—also called anal incontinence or accidental bowel leakage)”.5

Menopause

Is there an association between menopause and PFDs?

Voices for PFD explain:

“The pelvic floor muscles often weaken during menopause, which can lead to the development of pelvic organ prolapse (POP).6

In Menopause the Continence Health Australia’s Pelvic Floor First elaborate on:

“The onset of menopause can cause your pelvic floor muscles – just like the rest of the muscles in your body – to weaken. These muscles support the pelvic organs, which means that the weakening of these muscles can result in pelvic floor problems. Reduced pelvic floor muscle function around the time of menopause can also be due to weight gain, which is common during menopause.

Other contributing factors may include:

  • A less elastic bladder
  • Anal trauma resulting from childbirth
  • Chronic conditions such as diabetes or asthma which can cause bladder or bowel control problems”.7

Pelvic Organ Prolapse

What is pelvic organ prolapse (POP)?

DotS the definition of a POP may vary. In Pelvic Organ Prolapse the Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov’s definition is:

“Pelvic organ prolapse happens when the muscles and tissues supporting the pelvic organs (the uterus, bladder, or rectum) become weak or loose. This allows one or more of the pelvic organs to drop or press into or out of the vagina. Many women are embarrassed to talk to their doctor about their symptoms or think that their symptoms are normal. But pelvic organ prolapse is treatable”.8

Health Care Provider

Does PFD go away on its own?

In Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Outlook / Prognosis – Does Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Go Away on Its Own? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic explain:

“Unfortunately, no. Pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms (like an overactive bladder) typically stay or become worse if they’re not treated. Pelvic floor dysfunction is treatable, but you’ll need to see a provider who can diagnose and treat the symptoms”.9

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Pelvic Floor Disorders?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Pelvic Floor Disorders?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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New or Updated

  1. About Pelvic Floor Disorders
  2. Bladder Health
  3. Bladder Control
  4. Bladder Issues Common for Women of All Ages [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network. Name Super/CG: Olivia Cardenas-Trowers, M.D./Gynecology/Mayo Clinic]
  5. Bladder Leakage: How To Talk To Your Doctor
  6. Bowel Control
  7. Bowel Health
  8. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  9. Continence.org.au [Continence Health Australia]
  10. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM): Diagnosis and Evidence-Based Management
  11. FAQs
  12. FAQs: Pelvic Support Problems
  13. FAQs: Surgery for Pelvic Organ Prolapse
  14. Fact Sheets, Patient Summaries and Downloads
  15. Fact Sheets, Patient Summaries and Downloads: Additional Downloadable Content – First Visit With A Urogynecologist
  16. Fact Sheets, Patient Summaries and Downloads: Additional Downloadable Content – Talking to Your Doctor
  17. Fact Sheets, Patient Summaries and Downloads: Additional Downloadable Content – What Is A Urogynecologist?
  18. Fact Sheets, Patient Summaries and Downloads: Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises and Bladder Training
  19. Fact Sheets, Patient Summaries and Downloads: Pelvic Organ Prolapse
  20. Fact Sheets, Patient Summaries and Downloads: Vaginal Pessaries
  21. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
  22. Glossary
  23. Helpful Organizations
  24. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Surgical and Nonsurgical Treatment Options for Vaginal Prolapse
  25. Menopause
  26. Menopause
  27. Menopause and Incontinence
  28. Midlife Weight Gain
  29. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – It Is Not Just Incontinence – Common Bladder Problems Around Menopause
  30. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2025: The Burn, the Itch, the Pain, the Urge: GSM In Women
  31. Pelvic Exam Techniques
  32. Pelvic Floor Disorder Awareness [+ Video]
  33. Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
  34. Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Prevention and Non-Surgical Management [NICE guideline [NG210]]
  35. Pelvic Floor Exercises
  36. Pelvic Floor Exercises for Women
  37. Pelvic Floor Health | Dr Louise Newson LIVE
  38. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
  39. Pelvic Organ Prolapse
  40. Pelvic Organ Prolapse
  41. Pelvic Organ Prolapse
  42. Pelvic Organ Prolapse
  43. Pelvic Organ Prolapse
  44. Pelvic Organ Prolapse
  45. Pelvic Organ Prolapse Causes and Treatment
  46. Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Pelvic Floor Support
  47. Prolapse
  48. Talk About “It”
  49. The Pelvic Floor
  50. The Pelvic Floor Society [United Kingdom]
  51. Treatments
  52. Understanding Pelvic Organ Prolapse [+ Videos]
  53. Uterine Prolapse
  54. Voicesforpfd.org [Voices for Pelvic Floor Disorders]
  55. Voicesforpfd.org [Voices for Pelvic Floor Disorders]: Animated Videos
  56. What Are PFDs?
  57. What Is A Pelvic Organ Prolapse Look Like
  58. What Is Vaginismus and How To Manage It
  59. What Women Need To Know About Their Pelvic Floor

  60. Women: Pelvic Floor Exercise
  61. Working Your Pelvic Floor
  62. World Continence Week 2026 [15-21 June 2026]Pelvic Floor Disorders

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Menopause. Pelvic Floor First https://www.pelvicfloorfirst.org.au/pages/going-through-menopause-or-post-menopausal.html Accessed: 07 March 2026
  2. What Women Need To Know About Their Pelvic Floor: What Are Pelvic Floor Disorders? 07 May 2025. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Women’s Health https://www.fda.gov/consumers/knowledge-and-news-women-owh-blog/what-women-need-know-about-their-pelvic-floor Accessed: 07 March 2026
  3. What Women Need To Know About Their Pelvic Floor: Where Is the Pelvic Floor and Why Does It Matter for Women? 07 May 2025. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Women’s Health https://www.fda.gov/consumers/knowledge-and-news-women-owh-blog/what-women-need-know-about-their-pelvic-floor Accessed: 07 March 2026
  4. What Are PFDs? What Causes PFDs? Voices for PFD https://www.voicesforpfd.org/about/what-are-pfds/ Accessed: 07 March 2026
  5. What Are PFDs? Am I At Risk? Voices for PFD https://www.voicesforpfd.org/about/what-are-pfds/ Accessed: 07 March 2026
  6. What Are PFDs? Check Your PFD Risk: Life Stage – Menopause. Voices for PFD https://www.voicesforpfd.org/about/what-are-pfds/ Accessed: 07 March 2026
  7. Menopause. Pelvic Floor First https://www.pelvicfloorfirst.org.au/pages/going-through-menopause-or-post-menopausal.html Accessed: 07 March 2026
  8. Pelvic Organ Prolapse. Page Last Updated: 24 October 2025. NHS https://womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/pelvic-organ-prolapse Accessed: 07 March 2026
  9. Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Outlook / Prognosis – Does Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Go Away on Its Own? Last Reviewed: 12 January 2024. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14459-pelvic-floor-dysfunction Accessed: 07 March 2026
Topic Last Updated: 20 July 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 07 March 2026

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