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Pelvic floor muscles can weaken for a variety of reasons, including age, childbirth, surgery, constipation, and coughing. They may also weaken due to hormone changes during menopause or reduced oestrogen. Pelvic floor problems can occur when the muscles are stretched, weakened, or too tight. Common signs of weakened pelvic floor muscles include struggling to control when you pee, poop, or pass gas (incontinence).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reduced oestrogen | Weakens pelvic floor muscles |
| Constipation | Can lead to pelvic floor muscles weakening |
| Ongoing cough | Increases the risk of urinary incontinence and prolapse |
| Hysterectomy, prostate surgery or radiotherapy treatment | Can weaken pelvic floor muscles |
| Hormone changes during menopause | Can weaken pelvic floor muscles |
| Conditions like diabetes | Can play a role in weakening pelvic floor muscles |
| Pregnancy | Can stress pelvic floor muscles |
| Childbirth | Can weaken pelvic floor muscles |
| Surgery | Can weaken pelvic floor muscles |
| Injury or trauma | Can weaken pelvic floor muscles |
| Overly tight pelvic floor muscles | Can cause constipation or difficulty moving bowels, pelvic pain, back or hip/leg pain, painful intercourse, and difficulty peeing, urinary urgency/frequency |
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What You'll Learn
Constipation and straining on the toilet
Constipation can be caused by pelvic floor muscles that are too tight and cannot relax. This can be made worse by doing squeezing exercises and overworking the muscles without learning how to relax them. Pelvic floor muscle fitness is affected by a number of things, including injury or trauma, childbirth, and surgery.
To prevent constipation and straining on the toilet, it is important to address the underlying cause of constipation. This may include making dietary changes, increasing fluid intake, and getting regular exercise. It is also important to learn good toilet habits, such as not straining or holding your breath while trying to pass a stool.
If you are experiencing constipation and straining on the toilet, it is important to seek medical advice. A healthcare professional can help you identify the underlying cause of your constipation and recommend appropriate treatments or lifestyle changes. They may also suggest pelvic floor exercises, such as Kegels, to help strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and improve your bowel function.
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Hysterectomy, prostate surgery or radiotherapy treatment
Pelvic floor muscles can weaken as a result of a number of factors, including hysterectomy, prostate surgery or radiotherapy treatment.
Hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of the uterus. This can lead to a weakening of the pelvic floor muscles due to the trauma and stress caused during the surgery. Similarly, prostate surgery, which involves the removal or treatment of the prostate gland, can also result in weakened pelvic floor muscles due to the invasive nature of the procedure.
Radiotherapy treatment, which is often used to treat cancer, can also have an impact on the pelvic floor muscles. Radiation can cause damage to the muscles and surrounding tissues, leading to a loss of strength and flexibility.
In addition to these specific procedures, pelvic floor muscles can also weaken due to other factors such as reduced oestrogen levels, menopause, diabetes, injury, childbirth, and constipation. It is important to address any underlying causes and learn good habits to maintain pelvic floor health. Pelvic floor exercises, also known as Kegels, can be used to strengthen the muscles and improve their function.
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Reduced oestrogen and menopause
Pelvic floor muscles can weaken as a result of reduced oestrogen and menopause. Oestrogen is a hormone that helps to maintain muscle strength, so when oestrogen levels drop during menopause, the pelvic floor muscles can become weaker. This can lead to a range of issues, including incontinence, constipation, and pelvic pain.
During menopause, the body undergoes a number of changes, including a decrease in oestrogen production. This can have a significant impact on the pelvic floor muscles, which rely on oestrogen to maintain their strength and flexibility. As oestrogen levels drop, the muscles can become weaker and less able to support the organs and stabilise the core.
In addition to the drop in oestrogen, menopause can also lead to other changes in the body that can affect the pelvic floor muscles. For example, menopause can cause a decrease in bone density, which can lead to a weakening of the pelvic bones and surrounding muscles. Additionally, menopause can cause changes in the vaginal tissue, making it thinner and less elastic. This can impact the support and stability of the pelvic floor muscles.
The weakening of the pelvic floor muscles during menopause can lead to a range of issues. One common issue is stress incontinence, which is the involuntary leakage of urine during activities that increase abdominal pressure, such as coughing, sneezing, or laughing. This can occur because the weakened pelvic floor muscles are no longer able to support the bladder and urethra properly, leading to urine leakage.
Another issue that can arise from weakened pelvic floor muscles during menopause is pelvic organ prolapse. This occurs when the organs in the pelvis, such as the bladder, uterus, or rectum, drop or descend into the vagina or anus due to a lack of support from the weakened pelvic floor muscles. This can cause a range of symptoms, including pelvic pain, difficulty urinating or having a bowel movement, and a feeling of pressure or fullness in the pelvis.
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Childbirth and pregnancy
Pelvic floor muscles can be weakened by childbirth and pregnancy. During pregnancy, the muscles can become stressed, and childbirth can cause injury or trauma. Pelvic floor muscles can also be weakened by reduced oestrogen levels, which can occur during menopause, and by conditions like diabetes.
Pregnancy and childbirth are not the only causes of weakened pelvic floor muscles. They can also be weakened by reduced oestrogen levels, which can occur during menopause. This can cause the muscles to lose strength and flexibility, leading to problems such as incontinence and constipation.
Conditions like diabetes may also play a role in weakening pelvic floor muscles. Additionally, ongoing or repeated straining on the toilet due to constipation can lead to weak pelvic floor muscles and/or prolapse of the organs into the vagina or anus.
It is important to note that pelvic floor muscles can be consciously controlled and trained, much like other muscle groups in the body. Pelvic floor exercises, or Kegels, are commonly used to strengthen these muscles and improve their flexibility.
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Chronic coughing
Pelvic floor muscles can weaken as a result of chronic coughing. An ongoing cough for any reason (for example, asthma, bronchitis or a smoker's cough) increases the risk of urinary incontinence and prolapse.
It is important to address the root cause of chronic coughing to prevent further weakening of the pelvic floor muscles. This may involve seeking medical advice to manage conditions such as asthma or bronchitis. Additionally, pelvic floor exercises, also known as Kegels, can be practised to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and improve their flexibility.
By taking a holistic approach that addresses the underlying causes and incorporates targeted exercises, individuals can effectively manage and strengthen their pelvic floor muscles, even in the presence of chronic coughing.
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Frequently asked questions
Pelvic floor muscles can weaken as a result of reduced oestrogen, childbirth, surgery, injury, trauma, constipation, chronic coughing, ageing, and menopause.
Common signs include struggling to control when you pee, poop or pass gas (incontinence).
The pelvic floor muscles are located towards the back of your pelvis. They should be strong enough to stabilise your core and secure your organs but flexible enough to stretch and relax.
Pelvic floor exercises, or Kegels, are commonly used to strengthen pelvic floor muscles.
