Pelvic floor therapists will teach you various techniques and muscle exercises to help strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and improve your symptoms or condition. Factors that may lead to a weakened pelvic floor include labor and childbirth, being out of shape, obesity, chronic constipation, heavy lifting, chronic cough, aging, surgery, radiation or hereditary predisposition.
Common symptoms of pelvic floor disorders to look out for include:
- Difficulty starting to urinate or emptying the bladder completely
- Chronic urinary tract infections
- Leaking urine caused by laughing, coughing or exercise
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Pain during urination
- Leaking stool or having a hard time controlling gas
- Constipation
- Trouble getting to the bathroom in time
- A feeling of fullness or aching in the vagina that increases with bowel movements or by the end of the day
- A visible "bulge" in the vagina
