| Abstract: |
This article, from a health information newsletter, reviews the problem of pelvic floor weakness. The strains of daily life and aging can be factors that weaken and stretch muscles, ligaments, nerves, and other tissues supporting the pelvic organs. Once identified, pelvic floor weakness can sometimes be managed with exercises and noninvasive therapies. Often, though, surgical treatment is preferred and even necessary. The article reviews the physiology and anatomy of the pelvic floor muscles, conditions that may result from weakened pelvic floor muscles (uterine prolapse, cystocele, rectocele, enterocele), the symptoms of those conditions, diagnostic tests that may be done, and treatment options. One sidebar reviews the use of Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. 1 figure. |