What are the symptoms of Pelvic Floor Disorders?

Some symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse may include:

• A feeling of heaviness or fullness or as if something falling out of the vagina.

• Some women also feel a pulling or aching or a “bulge” in the lower abdomen or pelvis.

• Prolapse may also cause a kinking in the urethra, making it harder for a woman to empty her bladder completely, or causing frequent urinary tract infections.

• Urinary incontinence – This can occur when the bladder drops down into the vagina.  Because the bladder is not in its proper place, a key symptom of urinary incontinence is urine leaking without a woman’s control.  Other symptoms might include urgency to urinate, frequent urination, and painful urination.

• Anal incontinence – This can occur when the rectum bulges into or out of the vagina, making it difficult to control the bowels.  It can also occur when there is damage to the anal sphincter, the ring of muscles that keep the anus closed.