“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 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. The (United States) Voices for PFD’s definition is:
“Pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) are a group of conditions that affect the pelvic floor”.2
Pelvic Floor
What is the pelvic floor?
DotS the definition of the pelvic floor may vary. In What Are PDFs? Voices for PFD’s definition is:
“The pelvic floor includes the muscles, ligaments and connective tissue in the lowest part of the pelvis. It supports your organs, including the bowel, bladder, uterus, vagina, and rectum. The pelvic floor prevents these organs from falling down or out of your body. It also helps the organs function properly”.3
Prolapse
What is prolapse?
Dots the definition of prolapse may vary. The (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health’s (JH) definition is:
In Prolapse: What Is Prolapse? Types of Prolapse [+ Image] the JH elaborate on:
- Vaginal prolapse…
- Uterine prolapse…
- Bladder prolapse (also called cystocele)…
- Bowel prolapse (also called retrocele)…”.5
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
What is pelvic organ prolapse (POP)?
DotS the definition of a POP may vary. In Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Overview the (United Kingdom) NHS’s definition is:
It can be the womb (uterus), bowel, bladder or top of the vagina”.6
Cause
What causes PFDs?
In What Are PFDs? What Causes PFDs? Voices for PFD explain:
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”.7
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)”.8
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).9
In Who’s At Risk? Menopause the Continence Foundation of Australia’s Pelvic Floor First elaborate on:

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”.10
Postmenopause
Is there an association between postmenopause and PFDs?
The JH explain:
“Postmenopausal women are more susceptible to prolapse. The trigger is a loss of oestrogen during menopause. This hormone helps to keep the pelvic floor muscles, which support the vagina and bladder, well toned. Once oestrogen levels drop after menopause, these muscles become thinner, weaker and less elastic. The vaginal skin may also stretch, which may allow the bladder or bowel to bulge into the vagina”.11
Management and Treatment
What can women do for the management and treatment of PFDs?
In Prolapse: Management & Treatment the JH elaborate on:
The JH also explain:
“Treatment will depend on the severity of the prolapse and the degree it interferes with a woman’s lifestyle. In some women, strengthening the pelvic floor muscles and modifying daily activities may be all that is required”.13
Health Care Provider
What if I think I have a PFD?
If you think you have a PFD, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.
On page one in First Visit With A Urogynecologist: Helpful Tips To Prepare You for Your First Visit Voices for PFD provide a checklist “designed to help you get organized and optimize your consultation” and explain:
“It pays to be prepared for every doctor’s visit. The more your doctor knows about your past medical and surgical history, your daily medications and how all of the organs of your pelvis are working, the better they can diagnose and develop a customized treatment plan for your bothersome symptoms”.14
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:
Links
Where may I find Links related to Pelvic Floor Disorders?
Your Country may have Links similar to:
Links
This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.- Bladder Control
- 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]
- Bowel Control
- Common Problems With Pelvic Floor Muscles
- Continence.org.au [Continence Foundation of Australia]
- Daily Bladder Diary
- Do Your Pelvic Floor Exercises Daily
- FAQs
- FAQs: Pelvic Support Problems
- Fact Sheets and Downloads
- Fact Sheets and Downloads: Additional Downloadable Resources – First Visit With A Urogynecologist
- Fact Sheets and Downloads: Additional Downloadable Resources – Pelvic Floor Muscle Strengthening
- Fact Sheets and Downloads: Additional Downloadable Resources – Talking With Your Doctor
- Fact Sheets and Downloads: Additional Downloadable Resources – What Is A Urogynecologist?
- Fact Sheets and Downloads: Fact Sheets – Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises and Bladder Training
- Fact Sheets and Downloads: Fact Sheets – Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Fact Sheets and Downloads: Fact Sheets – Vaginal Pessaries
- For Better Sex: 3 Ways To Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor
- Glossary
- Helpful Organizations
- Intake and Voiding Diary
- Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
- Lifting the Lid on Prolapse
- Mayo Clinic Q and A: Surgical and Nonsurgical Treatment Options for Vaginal Prolapse
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause FAQs: Menopause Symptoms – Q. Does Menopause Cause Urine Leakage?
- Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Common Conditions Associated With Menopause and Midlife
- Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
- Pelvic Floor Disorder Awareness [+ Video]
- Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
- Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Prevention and Non-Surgical Management [NICE guideline [NG210]]
- Pelvic Floor Exercises
- Pelvic Floor Exercises: Pelvic Floor Exercises [+ Podcast + Video]
- Pelvic Floor Muscles In Women [+ Video]
- Pelvic Floor Strength
- Pelvic Health Through Life: Menopause
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse [+ Video]
- Prolapse
- Prolapse: Uterine and Vaginal Prolapse
- Prolapse: What Is Prolapse? [+ Image]
- Surgery for Pelvic Organ Prolapse: FAQ
- Talk About “It”
- The Pelvic Floor
- The Pelvic Floor Society [United Kingdom]
- Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
- Treatments
- Understanding Pelvic Organ Prolapse [+ Videos]
- Uterine Prolapse
- Video Series-2021: Female Urinary and Bladder Issues At Midlife
- Video Series-2023
- Voicesforpfd.org [Voices for Pelvic Floor Disorders]
- Voicesforpfd.org [Voices for Pelvic Floor Disorders]: Animated Videos
- Voicesforpfd.org [Voices for Pelvic Floor Disorders]: Find A Provider
- What Are PFDs?
- What Happens When You See A Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist or Endocrinologist?
- Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit
- Women
- Women: How Can I Find My Pelvic Floor Muscles?
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- Who’s At Risk? Menopause. Pelvic Floor First https://www.pelvicfloorfirst.org.au/pages/going-through-menopause-or-post-menopausal.html Accessed: 05 September 2023
- What Are PFDs? Voices for PFD https://www.voicesforpfd.org/about/what-are-pfds/ Accessed: 05 September 2023
- What Are PFDs? Voices for PFD https://www.voicesforpfd.org/about/what-are-pfds/ Accessed: 05 September 2023
- Prolapse: What Is Prolapse? Last Updated: 26 August 2023 | Last Reviewed: 04 August 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/bladder-bowel/prolapse-bladder-weakness Accessed: 05 September 2023
- Prolapse: What Is Prolapse? Types of Prolapse. Last Updated: 26 August 2023 | Last Reviewed: 04 August 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/bladder-bowel/prolapse-bladder-weakness/ Accessed: 05 September 2023
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Overview. Page Last Reviewed: 24 March 2021. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pelvic-organ-prolapse/ Accessed: 05 September 2023
- What Are PFDs? What Causes PFDs? Voices for PFD https://www.voicesforpfd.org/about/what-are-pfds/ Accessed: 05 September 2023
- What Are PFDs? Am I At Risk? Voices for PFD https://www.voicesforpfd.org/about/what-are-pfds/ Accessed: 05 September 2023
- What Are PFDs? Check Your PFD Risk: Life Stage – Menopause. Voices for PFD https://www.voicesforpfd.org/about/what-are-pfds/ Accessed: 05 September 2023
- Who’s At Risk? Menopause. Pelvic Floor First https://www.pelvicfloorfirst.org.au/pages/going-through-menopause-or-post-menopausal.html Accessed: 05 September 2023
- Prolapse: Risk Factors for Prolapse – Postmenopausal Women. Last Updated: 26 August 2023 | Last Reviewed: 04 August 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/bladder-bowel/prolapse-bladder-weakness/ Accessed: 05 September 2023
- Prolapse: Management & Treatment. Last Updated: 26 August 2023 | Last Reviewed: 04 August 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/bladder-bowel/prolapse-bladder-weakness Accessed: 05 September 2023
- Prolapse: Management & Treatment. Last Updated: 26 August 2023 | Last Reviewed: 04 August 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/bladder-bowel/prolapse-bladder-weakness Accessed: 05 September 2023
- First Visit With A Urogynecologist: Helpful Tips to Prepare You for Your First Visit. Page 1. Voices for PFD https://www.voicesforpfd.org/assets/2/6/First_Visit_with_a_Urogyn.pdf Accessed: 05 September 2023