Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD)

What is pelvic floor dysfunction?

Pelvic floor dysfunction is the name given to when the pelvic floor muscles or surrounding tissue are not working as they should do. Symptoms can include:

• Urinary Incontinence – Leakage of wee
• Overactivity of the bladder – needing to go to the toilet a lot and often urgently
• Prolapse of the pelvic organs – descent of the bladder, bowel or womb into the vagina
• Anal incontinence – leakage of poo or wind
• Dyspareunia – pain or discomfort with sex

PFD is common during and after pregnancy.

• 40-50% of women in their 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy or immediately postnatally have some urinary leakage
• 25% of pregnant women can have reduced control of their wind or poo
• 20% of women 12months postnatally have a prolapse
• 3-12% of postnatal women struggle with pain during sex

However, although it is not uncommon to have these symptoms – they should not last long and should resolve quickly.

If symptoms last longer than 6 weeks after having your baby or are severe – we advise you to ask for help. Please ask your GP, Health Visitor or Midwife to refer you to the Perinatal Pelvic health physiotherapy service. Treatment is usually simple and doesn’t cause any pain.

Videos

• Pelvic Health: An introduction
• Pelvic Floor and Gynaecology Anatomy
• Urinary Stress Incontinence
• Overactive Bladder Syndrome

Information

• Vaginal prolapse – add link

Resources

• The Vulval Pain Society
• Patient Information | POGP (thepogp.co.uk)
• Browse all patient information leaflets | RCOG
• The British Society of Urogynaecology (BSUG)
• Supporting women with injuries from childbirth – MASIC