“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:

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:

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:

Cause

What causes PFDs?

The (United States) MedlinePlus note:

“The pelvic floor can become weak or be injured. The main causes are pregnancy and childbirth. Other causes include being overweight, radiation treatment, surgery, and getting older”.⁷

In What Are PFDs? What Causes PFDs? 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”.⁸

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)”.⁹

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).¹⁰

In Who’s At Risk? Menopause the Continence Foundation of 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”.¹¹

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”.¹²

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”.¹⁴

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”.¹⁵

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