Pelvic Floor
Approximately 20% of Americans live with pelvic floor dysfunction, suffering from symptoms ranging from urinary incontinence to painful sexual intercourse. At Urology Care of Central New Jersey, in Edison, New Jersey, Binod Sinha, MD, FACS, diagnoses and treats pelvic floor dysfunction to reduce your symptoms and help you lead a healthy and active life. Get the medical help you need to restore your pelvic floor by calling the practice or scheduling a consultation online today.
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Q & A
What is pelvic floor dysfunction?
Your pelvic floor is the cradle of muscles and soft tissues that support your urinary tract, reproductive organs, and parts of your digestive tract. Pelvic floor dysfunction is a condition where these muscles and tissues are either weakened or damaged, or your muscles involuntarily contract.
When your pelvic floor muscles are too weak or tight, you experience a variety of painful and disruptive symptoms.
What are the symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction?
Stress and urge urinary incontinence are the most common signs of pelvic floor dysfunction. If your pelvic floor is weak, it doesn’t sufficiently support your bladder and urethra, which can allow urine to escape your body when you cough, laugh, or do something else that increases the pressure on your bladder.
However, if your pelvic floor is too tight or is causing muscle spasms around your bladder, you may experience urge incontinence. Other symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction include:
- Constipation
- Painful intercourse (for women)
- Pain in the lower back and pelvic region
- Muscle spasms in the pelvic area
These symptoms can be severely disruptive, so make an appointment with Dr. Sinha for expert diagnosis and treatment.
What causes pelvic floor dysfunction?
The exact causes of pelvic floor dysfunction aren’t fully understood. However, several factors can contribute to the condition including:
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Injury or surgery in the pelvic region
- Obesity
- Nerve damage
In some cases, chronic constipation or straining to make a bowel movement can trigger pelvic floor dysfunction.
How is pelvic floor dysfunction treated?
Dr. Sinha offers customized treatments for pelvic floor dysfunction. He begins treatment by evaluating and testing your pelvic floor to confirm that your symptoms are caused by pelvic floor dysfunction.
Then, depending on your condition, he provides a customized treatment plan that typically includes several therapies to relieve your symptoms and restore your pelvic floor health. For example, he may prescribe muscle relaxers or Botox® injections to reduce muscle spasms and a contraction in your pelvic floor.
Dr. Sinha may also prescribe physical therapy such as biofeedback sessions where you wear sensors and practice contracting and releasing your pelvic floor muscles while your therapist monitors the strength of your muscles.
If your pelvic floor dysfunction has led to uterine, bladder, or rectal prolapse, Dr. Sinha may recommend surgery to repair your body.
If you think you have pelvic floor dysfunction, call Urology Care of Central New Jersey or book an appointment online today.