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You are here: Birth >> Pregnancy >> Health concerns during pregnancy >> Weakened pelvic floor

Weakened pelvic floor

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Weakened pelvic floor

A weakness in the pelvic floor muscle can result in:

	Stress incontinence - when you have a leakage of urine if you cough, laugh or sneeze.
	Urge incontinence, or a feeling of urgency or 'accidents' before you get to the toilet.
	Overflow incontinence - when you involuntarily lose urine because your bladder is overfull. This can sometimes happen during labour or after the birth.
	Frequency - a feeling of needing to pass urine more often both night and day.
	Bowel Dysfunction - being unable to hold your faeces (being incontinent) or being unable to empty your bowel efficiently, causing constipation.
	Prolapse of the internal organs - when the weakened pelvic floor and vaginal walls are unable to support the internal organs. The woman usually experiences heaviness or a dragging sensation. The uterus can prolapse or move down the vagina, sometimes to the point that the cervix can protrude out of the vagina. This is called a uterine prolapse. If the bladder is unsupported by the vaginal wall (internally), it is called a cystocoele. If the bowel is unsupported, it is called a rectocele. If the uterus, cervix and small bowel are all involved it is called an enterocoele. At times surgery may be required to treat these conditions.
	Sexual dysfunction. For women with a weakened pelvic floor they can have a lessened sexual sensation with penetration, and sometimes pain and discomfort if the internal organs are not adequately supported. Some women find if their pelvic floor is very weakened they are unable to retain a tampon when menstruating.

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