Pelvic Floor Assessment

Many women will spend hours each week exercising their legs and abdominal muscles in order to "keep in shape." Unfortunately, one of the most important sets of muscles is overlooked and ignored. The pelvic floor muscles are a series of muscles that form a sling or hammock across the opening of the pelvis. These muscles, together with their surrounding tissue, is responsible for keeping all of the pelvic organs (bladder, uterus, and rectum) in place and functioning correctly.

Women commonly will damage their pelvic floor muscles during childbirth and this can lead to problems in the future. Women with weak or damaged pelvic floors may experience back pain, symptoms of pelvic pressure or pain. They may notice leaking or urine or stool. Many will have the sensation that something is falling out of the vagina.

We provide screening and careful assessment of the muscles of the pelvic floor. We routinely determine if patients have a cystocele, rectocele, enterocele, or uterine prolapse that may be responsible for their symptoms. We can assess how strong the muscles are and determine if there is any permanent damage to the support mechanism in the pelvis. We can determine if special exercises would be useful and encourage all women to learn to do "Kegel" exercises.

Sometimes, Kegel exercises are not enough to correct the problem. We then can employ the latest techniques in pelvic floor strengthening with either biofeedback training or electrical stimulation treatment. Sometimes, surgical correction is the only option for treatment. Most of these surgeries can be performed as an outpatient with relatively quick recovery times.

If you suspect you might have a pelvic floor problem, consult with your doctor as soon as possible.