Pelvic Floor Disorders
Compassionate, Complete Treatment and Care
Pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) develop when the pelvic floor (the muscles that support organs in the pelvis) becomes weak or damaged. Without treatment, these conditions can be painful and lead to decreases in your quality of life. PFDs can affect both men and women.
At Baystate Health, we understand what you’re going through, and we’re here to help. We offer advanced care for PFDs from a team of pelvic floor specialists, including:
- Colorectal surgeons
- Gynecologists
- Physical therapists
- Radiologists
- Urogynecologists
- Urogynecologic surgeons
- Urologists
What Are Pelvic Floor Disorders?
PFDs involve injuries or weakening of the muscles or connective tissue in the pelvis. A PFD can involve:
- Urinary incontinence: When you can’t control your bladder
- Fecal incontinence: When you can’t control your bowel and bowel movements
- Pelvic organ prolapse: In women, when your uterus, bladder, bowel, or top of the vagina may fall downward into the vagina because the pelvic floor muscles can’t support them
In women, pelvic floor disorders often result from childbirth. Our team offers specialized testing and treatment if you’re a woman with a PFD that develops during the peripartum period (during pregnancy and for up to one year after childbirth).
Other causes of PFDs can include:
- Heavy lifting or straining
- Menopause
- Obesity
- Prior surgeries or radiation exposure to the pelvis
Though many people think the symptoms of a PFD are a natural part of getting older, they are not a routine part of aging. However, they do become more common as people get older.
PFDs are relatively common, particularly in women. As the National Institutes of Health reports, nearly 24% of women have at least one PFD.
It may be, but there are many conditions that can cause pain in the lower torso or pelvic area. These include:
- A pelvic floor disorder (PFD)
- Adenomyosis (a breakthrough of the inner lining of the uterus through the muscle wall of the uterus)
- Endometriosis (the growth of tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus in an area outside your uterus)
- Interstitial cystitis (inflamed bladder)
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Uterine fibroids (noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during childbearing years)
We’ll start by asking you about your health history and your pain, as well as any other symptoms, such as whether you’re spotting between periods or if it hurts to go to the bathroom. You may need tests, such as a urine test or a pelvic ultrasound, to help us narrow down the cause of your pain.
If you’re pregnant, or you’ve recently had a baby, you may benefit from our specialized program for postpartum pelvic floor disorders.
Once we understand your symptoms and condition, we’ll work with you to create a personalized treatment plan. Your treatment may include:
- Behavioral changes
- Biofeedback (using sensors with audible tones to help teach you how to exercise your pelvic floor muscles)
- Kegel exercises
- Medication
- Pelvic floor surgery
- Physical therapy
When Laughing is No Longer Funny
Dr. Katelyn Kopcsay shares the facts on incontinence and how to regain control.
Back to Top