Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common, and you can get them for a variety of reasons. Getting a UTI treated quickly means knowing the signs, so let’s find out what to look for.
Sexual and digestive health are vital to your overall well-being, and they’re connected in more ways than you might think.
Your pelvic region contains your bladder, genitals, urethra, and anus, all held in place by a group of muscles that make up the pelvic floor (or perineum). If something goes wrong with these muscles, it can lead to complications that affect your ability to perform basic bodily functions.
Women in and around Boston, Massachusetts, who are experiencing problems with their pelvic floor muscles can turn to Dr. Neeraj Kohli and the team at BostonUrogyn. Our state-of-the-art facility is designed to provide patients with the best and most personalized treatment and care.
Let’s examine how your pelvic floor works, and what can happen if something goes wrong with the muscles in that area.
Here are the main muscles in your pelvic floor:
The dominant muscle in your pelvic floor, it helps with pushing during childbirth and defecation.
This muscle stretches laterally across the vagina and ensures the stability of the central tendon of the perineum.
This vaginal muscle connects to the external anal sphincter, helps with clitoris erection, and contracts during orgasm.
This muscle tenses the vagina and helps to flex the anal muscles.
These muscles provide a bowl-shaped support for all the organs and tissue in your pelvic region. During childbirth, they wrap around your child’s head as it moves through the birth canal.
When these muscles are damaged or weakened, they can cause major problems.
Pelvic floor dysfunction has a variety of causes, including:
Overusing the pelvic floor muscles can also cause problems, for example, pushing too hard when you’re using the bathroom or going too often.
If the pelvic floor muscles become weak or too tense, it can create problems with your bladder, uterus, vagina, and anus.
Symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction include:
Pelvic floor dysfunction can also lead to painful sex and increase your risk of conditions like interstitial cystitis.
Generally, pelvic floor problems are treated nonsurgically with exercises, relaxation techniques, biofeedback, and medications.
Biofeedback, a way to retrain muscles, is a common treatment that helps over 75% of people with pelvic floor problems. Physical therapy, often done alongside biofeedback, includes Kegel exercises and can help reestablish muscle coordination.
Relaxation techniques like baths, acupuncture, and yoga may also be recommended to ease tense muscles. Stool-softening medications (including over-the-counter brands like Senna, MiraLAX® and Colace®) can ease discomfort.
Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction disrupt your life. To get expert help from Dr. Kohli and BostonUrogyn, call one of our Boston area locations, including Wellesley and South Weymouth, or book your appointment online today.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common, and you can get them for a variety of reasons. Getting a UTI treated quickly means knowing the signs, so let’s find out what to look for.
Proper digestion is vital to your health. Any problems you have with getting food through your body could be trouble. Rectal problems in particular can indicate serious issues, and you should know what they could mean.
The organs and tissues in your pelvis are held together by your pelvic floor muscles. The weakening of those muscles can lead to a condition called pelvic prolapse. Find out what symptoms may indicate you have this condition.
Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are problematic for women and can lead to complications like kidney damage if left untreated. Your doctor has medications to treat a urinary tract infection, but there are ways to manage it at home.
If you’re struggling to control your bowel movements, going through it is an embarrassing ordeal no matter what’s causing the problem. But know that fecal incontinence affects many people, and treatments are available.
Thanks to pregnancy and aging, women go through a number of physical changes that affect different parts of the body, including the urinary tract. Read on for some tips to ensure long-term urinary health.