Pelvic Floor Medicine
"Common Female Conditions That Are Often Under Diagnosed and Untreated"
Pelvic floor disorders (PFD) are not considered a normal part of aging that you have to live with. They are medical conditions that can be successfully treated.
The term "pelvic floor" refers to the group of muscles that form a sling or hammock across the opening of a women's pelvis - the area located between the hips. These muscles, together with their surrounding tissues, keep all of the pelvic organs including the bladder, uterus, colon, urethra and vagina, in place so the organs can function correctly.
A PFD occurs when the pelvis muscles and connective tissue in the pelvis weaken or are injured.
More Common than You Think
Most women who suffer from pelvic floor disorders do not report their condition due to embarrassment. But you shouldn't be embarrassed, many women suffer from PFD.
In Fact, at least one-third of all women are affected by PFD.
Additionally:
- More than 50 percent of women age 55 and older suffer one or more of the problems caused by pelvic floor disorders.
- 30 percent of women with overactive bladder or urinary incontinence also suffer from loss of bowel control.
- 60 percent of nursing home residents suffer from loss of bowel control and/or urinary incontinence.
Baptist Health Care utilizes the latest innovations in diagnosis and treatment. If your treatment plan includes surgery, at Baptist you and your physician have access to high quality minimally invasive procedures that enable less blood loss, less pain and a quicker return to normal activities.
Primary Pelvic Floor Disorders - Incontinence and Pelvic Prolapse
The most common pelvic floor disorders are loss of bladder control, better known as incontinence, and the sagging or dropping of pelvic organs, or pelvic organ prolapse.
