by Courtney Payne – Physiotherapist
It’s quite common that someone who has poor gut health, also has pelvic floor dysfunction. For example, a person with Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms may also present with chronic pelvic pain. Someone who has constipation may also experience urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse symptoms such as a heaviness or a dragging feeling in their front or back passage.
Inflammation from an unhealthy gut may lead to the tightening of muscles in that area as a protective mechanism. Constipation and diarrhoea are common symptoms of poor gut health, both of which will negatively affect the pelvic floor if experienced for long enough. Those that suffer constipation will generally have a pelvic floor that is overactive, tight, weak or all of the above.
Anything that disrupts the function of the pelvic floor can disrupt the emptying of the bowel and bladder which can influence gastrointestinal wellness and also lead to other pelvic health problems such as lower back or sacroiliac joint pain, incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain or pain with sex. It is powerful to use a multi-disciplinary and holistic approach to find the root cause of your symptoms.