Pelvic floor - meaning and definition
Alsopelvic floor musclespelvic floor musclepelvic diaphragm
Not yet reviewed by a clinician. This health entry was written from the public-health sources listed below and is general information only. It is not medical advice.
Definition
The pelvic floor is a hammock-like group of muscles and connective tissue at the base of the pelvis that supports the bladder, bowel and, where present, the uterus.
At a glance
- The pelvic floor is a hammock-like group of muscles supporting the bladder, bowel and, where present, the uterus.
- It helps control urination and bowel movements and contributes to sexual function in all sexes.
- Pregnancy, childbirth, ageing, menopause, chronic coughing and some surgeries can weaken it.
- A weak pelvic floor can lead to leaking urine or pelvic organ prolapse.
- Overly tense pelvic floor muscles can contribute to pain during sex or vaginismus.
In detail
These muscles help control urination and bowel movements and contribute to sexual sensation and function in all sexes. Like other muscles, they can become weak or, less obviously, too tight.
Pregnancy, childbirth, ageing, menopause, chronic coughing and some surgeries can weaken the pelvic floor, sometimes leading to leaking urine or pelvic organ prolapse. Overly tense pelvic floor muscles can contribute to pain during sex or conditions such as vaginismus. Pelvic health physiotherapists specialise in assessing and treating both kinds of problem.
In a sentence
- After the birth, the midwife referred her to a physiotherapist for pelvic floor exercises.
- His urologist explained that the pelvic floor matters for bladder control after prostate surgery.
Common questions
Do men have a pelvic floor?
Yes. Everyone has a pelvic floor. It supports the bladder and bowel and contributes to bladder control and sexual function in all sexes. It can be weakened by ageing, chronic coughing or surgery, including prostate surgery.
Can the pelvic floor be too tight?
Yes. Muscles that are too tense can contribute to pelvic pain, pain during sex or conditions such as vaginismus. In this case strengthening exercises may not help, and relaxation techniques may be needed instead. A pelvic health physiotherapist can assess which kind of problem is present.
Related terms
Sources
- MedlinePlusPelvic Floor Disorders
- NHSPelvic organ prolapse