Recognising and addressing signs of poor pelvic health promptly, and ensuring those signs aren’t ignored, is essential for maintaining wellbeing and quality of life. In this article, we explore eight of the key indicators that women should never ignore when it comes to pelvic health.
The prevalence of poor pelvic health
A recent survey of 2,000 women conducted by The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) revealed that 60% of UK women have at least one symptom of poor pelvic floor health.
Over half of the women surveyed who had experienced symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction did not seek help from a healthcare professional. Of these, 39% thought their symptoms were normal and 21% were too embarrassed.
These statistics present a stark picture of a lack of understanding when it comes to pelvic health, and underline embarrassment as a powerful barrier to diagnosis and treatment. Below are some indicators of potential pelvic health issues that we recommend women be mindful of.
Understanding urogynaecology: women’s pelvic health explained
In this enlightening video, we delve into the world of urogynaecology with expert insights from Jan Chaseley, Jan Chaseley our highly experienced Clinical Nurse Specialist in Continence Care. Watch as we explore essential topics related to women’s pelvic health.
So, urogynaecology is a subspecialty in gynaecology. And it's particularly focusing on women who have problems with their bladder. And that can either be stress incontinence, leaking with coughing, sneezing exercise or overactive bladder where you get a lot of urgency, you can sometimes leak with that urge and often associated with that is a lot of night time symptoms, getting up a lot in the night to pass urine.
And also it covers pelvic organ prolapse and that is where either the bladder, the bowel or even the uterus can drop down into the vagina. And that can give symptoms of a heaviness, a dragging, a feeling of a vaginal lump or some patients can even see a vaginal lump. The most common things that we see are definitely the stress incontinence and overactive bladder. Again at Benidorm, we will see patients for prolapse.
And I think if you're coming along or if you think you've got some symptoms of prolapse, come along and have a proper assessment in the Urogynaecology team, get some advice around pelvic floor exercises and all of the advice that the specialist nurses can give you. One of the most important things is obviously the pelvic floor exercises that we've always talked about. You want to avoid doing too much heavy lifting, too much carrying big pots of compost and garden pots down the garden. Don't be a smoker and have a chronic cough because that increases abdominal pressure. Try not to have things like chronic constipation. Again, anything that's going to involve bearing down straining can make symptoms of prolapse worse.
If you've got a urinary incontinence, it may just be that you've picked up these symptoms because you've had three children and large babies, difficult deliveries which has slightly weakened your pelvic floor. So, you know, some of these symptoms, actually, you probably can't prevent, but there's a lot of positive things you can do to treat them. We're really lucky at Benenden. We have three urogynecologists that work here, two male consultants and one female. They work very closely with the four specialist nurses so that we can give you a complete holistic multidisciplinary approach to your care.
Persistent pelvic pain
Most causes of pelvic pain aren’t serious, with some common causes being constipation, period pain, irritable bowel syndrome or a urinary tract infection (UTI). Ongoing or worsening pain may indicate issues such as endometriosis or ovarian cysts.
In the majority of cases, pelvic pain is treatable, but ignoring persistent pain can lead to complications. If you’re worried about your symptoms, and they haven’t abated for at least two weeks, it’s important you see your GP. Seek urgent medical attention from a health professional if you experience severe pelvic pain.
Abnormal menstrual changes
Changes in menstrual patterns can be indicative of various pelvic health issues. Irregular periods, unusually heavy bleeding, or severe cramping may signal conditions like ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease. Any abrupt shift from the normal menstrual cycle should be discussed with your GP to rule out underlying problems.
If heavy periods are affecting your life, support is available. We offer a range of private gynaecology treatments, including consultation for menstrual bleeding disorders.
Blood in your pee
Blood in urine is rarely caused by anything serious, and may be an indicator of a urinary tract infection (UTI) or bladder or kidney stones.
However, it’s important to see your GP to get checked out early as possible, to rule out cancer.
Be aware that there may be other harmless causes. For example, it’s common to see blood in pee during your period, and certain medication can cause urine to turn red or brown - as can some foods such as beetroot, blackberries and rhubarb.
A feeling of fullness, heaviness or pressure in the lower tummy or genitals
A heaviness in your pelvic region can indicate pelvic organ prolapse, which occurs when the bladder or uterus descend into the vaginal area due to weakened pelvic floor muscles.
Pelvic floor exercises are the recommended first-line treatment for the condition, and our Consultant Gynaecologist, Mr Abishek Gupta, provides further information on treatments in our pelvic prolapse webinar.
Pain or numbness during sex
This may point to conditions such as pelvic organ prolapse, endometriosis, or chronic pelvic pain, also known as pudendal neuralgia, which is caused by a trapped pudendal nerve.
Chronic pelvic pain and pelvic organ prolapse can usually be managed and improved through physical therapy such as pelvic floor exercises, as well as lifestyle changes, but depending on the severity of symptoms, medical treatment may be needed.
Although it may be an embarrassing discussion to have with a healthcare professional, don't ignore the problem. Consult your GP if you are experiencing persistent pain during sex.
Benenden Hospital offers treatment for chronic pelvic pain and pelvic organ prolapse.
Pain when going to the toilet
Pain or a burning sensation when peeing (known as dysuria) can be an indicator of a urinary tract infection (UTI) such as cystitis or bladder pain syndrome (BPS). Dysuria is more common in women than men, and the risk of being affected is increased if you are pregnant or are diabetic.
Experiencing pain when peeing or pooing during your period can also be a common symptom of endometriosis.
If you are experiencing constipation, this can be one of several symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction or uterine fibroids - common growths on the uterus - but these often cause no symptoms whatsoever.
If your toilet visits are accompanied by discomfort which doesn’t go away, it's important to see your GP to determine if your symptom is related to a urinary tract infection.
Leaking pee when you exercise
34% of women experience leaking urine at some point, and it is not uncommon for this to occur when exercising.
The most common cause of this is stress incontinence – leakage when your bladder is put under sudden extra pressure.
Stress incontinence is usually a result of weakened pelvic floor muscles. The condition can often be managed by replacing high-impact exercise, such as jogging and aerobics, with strengthening exercises such as Kegels or Pilates, which improve the core muscles.
Our highly experienced Consultant Urogynaecologists offer treatment for female stress incontinence.
Frequent or urgent peeing
Changes in urinary habits, such as increased frequency or urgency, can be linked to pelvic health issues. Conditions like urinary tract infections, interstitial cystitis, overactive bladder (OAB) or pelvic organ prolapse may manifest through urinary symptoms.
If your peeing becomes more frequent, or is accompanied by pain or hesitancy, it’s a good idea to seek advice from your GP, who can arrange further tests if required.
Prioritise your pelvic health
Many women endure pelvic health issues needlessly, often due to a lack of understanding or when too embarrassed to ask for advice.
In the main, these issues can be treated, and recognising and addressing symptoms early can significantly impact the effectiveness of treatment and improve long-term outcomes.
At Benenden Hospital, we’ve got you covered with our Continence Care, Urogynaecology and Private GP services. To find out how we can help, contact our Private Patients team via LiveChat, by completing our online enquiry form or by calling us on 01580 363158.
Published on 05 April 2024