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Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Women

  • Women's Health Rehabilitation (S Bennis and C Fitzgerald, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review is to give an overview of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) dysfunction in women including evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment.

Recent Findings

The prevalence of PFM dysfunction is thought to be higher in women and may contribute to urinary, defecatory, and sexual dysfunction, as well as chronic pelvic pain.

Summary

PFM dysfunction is more prevalent amongst athletes, women who have given birth, and postmenopausal women than the general population. Stress and urge incontinence, urinary frequency and urgency, functional constipation, and fecal incontinence are all symptoms that may result from PFM dysfunction. PFM dysfunction can also cause chronic pain as seen in pelvic floor myofascial pain syndrome, bladder pain syndrome, and vestibulodynia/vulvodynia. Physiatrists play a key role in the comprehensive management of these conditions via behavioral and lifestyle modifications, focused pelvic physical therapy interventions, medications, and therapeutic injections.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Julie Hastings

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Julie Hastings

  3. Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, USA

    Megan Machek

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  1. Julie Hastings
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  2. Megan Machek
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Correspondence to Megan Machek.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Women’s Health Rehabilitation

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Hastings, J., Machek, M. Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Women. Curr Phys Med Rehabil Rep 8, 64–75 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40141-020-00259-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40141-020-00259-3

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