What is the function of the pelvic floor muscles?

There are many reasons that can cause damage to the pelvic floor muscles. The most common one is that when a woman gives birth, the pelvic floor muscles will be damaged to varying degrees. In addition, it may be related to certain external factors, and it may also be related to age factors, etc. In order to prevent pelvic floor muscle relaxation, you can do more anal lifting exercises. Men can also improve their sexual function by doing anal lifting exercises. Many people don’t know what role the pelvic floor muscles play. Let’s learn about it in detail below.

Functions of pelvic floor muscles:

The pelvic floor muscles refer to the group of muscles that close the pelvic floor. This muscle group is like a "hanging net". The urethra, bladder, vagina, uterus, rectum and other organs are tightly suspended by this "net", thus maintaining their normal position so that they can perform their functions. Once the elasticity of this "net" deteriorates and the "hanging force" is insufficient, the organs within the "net" will be unable to maintain their normal position, resulting in corresponding functional disorders such as urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, etc.

Involuntary leakage of urine when abdominal pressure increases (such as when coughing, sneezing, laughing) is a manifestation of stress urinary incontinence. Frequent urine leakage will cause your underwear to have an unpleasant odor that cannot be washed away. In more serious cases, you may need to use sanitary pads, which causes great inconvenience to your life.

Insufficient "lifting force" can also manifest as pelvic organ prolapse (uterine prolapse, anterior/posterior vaginal wall bulging) and fecal incontinence. Middle-aged and elderly people often go to the hospital for treatment because they find swelling prolapsed from the vulva. However, due to late diagnosis and severe prolapse, patients often miss the opportunity for early rehabilitation treatment and have to undergo surgical treatment.

Stress urinary incontinence and uterine prolapse are long-term effects of weak pelvic floor muscles, while decreased quality of sex life is the main short-term impact. This is especially common in postpartum women. A considerable number of postpartum women experience mild relaxation, prolapse, and decreased excitability of the anterior and posterior vaginal walls. In addition, postpartum hormonal changes, dryness and thinness of the vaginal mucosa, and poor recovery of perineal wounds directly affect the quality of their sexual life.

Stephanie Buhler explains that the pelvic floor muscles are like a spring that connects the pubic bone, coccyx, etc. It surrounds the urethra, vagina, and rectal openings, supports the pelvic and abdominal organs, and works with bladder, bowel, and sexual function. Therefore, the pelvic floor muscles are closely related to sexual function, urination function, etc.

People always think that age is the main cause of pelvic floor muscle relaxation, but it is not. Infection, inflammation or trauma are the key factors that cause the pelvic floor muscle tissue to change and become increasingly "loose". If women do not exercise in time after giving birth or men undergo prostate cancer surgery, their pelvic floor muscles will become loose. Obese people, those who like to lift heavy objects or those who have a bad standing posture can also over-stretch the pelvic floor muscles, making them no longer tight and strong.