Pelvic Floor Muscles in Women
The diagram below represents the female anatomy, showing the ‘sling’ like muscles that form the pelvic floor. It is attached to the coccyx of the spine at the rear of the body, and the pubic bone at the front.
The pelvic floor muscle is essential in holding your bladder, bowels, and reproductive systems in place and support strong urinary function and bowel control.
Pelvic Floor Muscles in Men
For people with the male anatomy, the pelvic floor muscles are situated similarly to in females. The sling of muscles support the rectum, bladder and prostate, and connect to the coccyx and the pubic bone. Pelvic floor exercises must be carried out slightly differently for men, to ensure the correct muscles are being targeted.
What happens if the Pelvic floor weakens?
Your pelvic floor muscles can become weak, however, due to pregnancy, pelvic surgery, constipation or illnesses that cause you to cough for a prolonged period of time. If this is the case, you may experience urinary or faecal incontinence as the muscles supporting your bladder and bowel organs are not strong enough to support and control how they function. You may also find you have less control over passing of wind.
Pelvic floor muscle exercises or pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation can, if done correctly, help you improve your bladder and bowel control and resolve or improve leakage. They can also be used to help you if you already have symptoms of pelvic floor weakness; for example, prolapse. When a muscle is not exercised it will weaken through lack of use. Like any other muscles in the body, the more you use and exercise them, the stronger the muscles will be. The pelvic floor muscles are no exception.
To achieve the best results you may need to seek help from a specialist continence physiotherapist or continence advisor. They will have a range of treatments available that can help you learn how to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.
The muscles of your pelvic floor have to be able to work in several different ways, just like other muscle groups in the body. The muscles need to be able to work strongly and quickly during times of sudden increase in intra-abdominal pressure (coughing, sneezing) to prevent leakage; and they need to work less strongly but be able to hold on for some time without letting go (endurance) so that you can get to the toilet without leaking.
Further Information
Bladder & Bowel Community has an information sheet available specifically for women and men, explaining how the pelvic floor muscles work and how to do your exercises. Please visit our downloads section for these and other Information Sheets that you may find helpful.
