Restoring Confidence: A Guide to Pelvic Floor Health

If you’re reading this, chances are you—or someone you know—has been struggling with pelvic floor dysfunction. Maybe you’ve been experiencing urine leakage when you cough or sneeze. Or perhaps you’ve noticed a feeling of heaviness in your pelvic area, a result of vaginal prolapse. These issues can be incredibly frustrating, even isolating. The good news is you don’t have to just live with it.

In this post, I’m going to talk to you about common symptoms caused by pelvic floor dysfunction, including stress urinary incontinence (SUI), vaginal prolapse, and other related concerns. I’ll also walk you through the treatments available today, with a special focus on two highly effective, non-invasive options that I’m passionate about: Emsella and EmsculptNEO. These treatments have made a world of difference for many of my patients, and I’m confident they can help you too.

The Effects of a Weakened Pelvic Floor

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and tissues that support your pelvic organs (the bladder, uterus, and rectum). If these muscles become weakened or damaged, they can no longer provide that important support and their function becomes compromised. Let’s take a closer look at the most common issues:

• Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI): This is the involuntary loss of urine that happens when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or engage in physical activity like running or lifting. I often hear women say things like, “I can’t jump on a trampoline with my grandkids” or “I’m scared to laugh too hard at a dinner party because I might leak.” Stress incontinence is not only uncomfortable, but can impact your social life, self-esteem, and even intimate relationships.
• Vaginal Prolapse: Over time, the muscles and ligaments supporting the pelvic organs can weaken, causing them to drop lower into the vaginal canal. Some women describe it as a feeling of pressure or a “bulging” sensation. Weak pelvic muscles can make it harder to control your bladder or even perform simple movements like standing up or picking up a heavy grocery bag.
• Sexual Dysfunction: Women with pelvic floor issues often experience sexual difficulties, such as pain during intercourse, low libido, or difficulty reaching orgasm. The pelvic floor muscles play a significant role in sexual function, and when they’re weak or damaged, it can be challenging to enjoy intimacy.

What Causes Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?

Pelvic floor problems are more common than you might think, and affect women at all stages of life. There are several factors that contribute to this problem:

• Childbirth: The trauma of pregnancy and childbirth, especially vaginal deliveries, can stretch and weaken the pelvic floor muscles. The risk increases with each subsequent pregnancy and delivery. Even if you’ve had a C-section, the pressure of carrying a baby can still affect your pelvic health.
• Aging: As we get older, our muscles naturally lose some of their strength and elasticity, and that includes the muscles of the pelvic floor. These muscles are difficult to isolate and are not usually targeted when working out at the gym.
• Hormonal Changes (Menopause): The loss of estrogen that occurs during menopause causes the tissues in the vaginal and pelvic region to become thinner and less elastic. This can exacerbate pelvic floor issues and make them more noticeable. Many women experience worsening incontinence or prolapse symptoms during this phase of life.
• Lifestyle and Physical Activity: High-impact activities, chronic constipation, obesity, and even repetitive heavy lifting can put extra strain on the pelvic floor, leading to weakened muscles.

How Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Affects Your Life

If you’re dealing with pelvic floor dysfunction, you’re probably all too familiar with how it impacts your daily life. You may find yourself avoiding activities you used to enjoy—like exercising, travelling, or even laughing—because of the fear of leakage or discomfort. These physical symptoms can also take a toll on your emotional well-being. Many women feel embarrassed or ashamed, which can lead to social isolation or a decreased sense of confidence, especially when it comes to intimacy and sexual relationships.

As a gynecologist, I’ve seen firsthand how this affects my patients. Women assume these problems are a part of getting older and that there are no options other than surgery. But I want you to know that you don’t have to accept pelvic floor dysfunction as a natural part of aging. There are effective treatments available, and I’m here to help you explore them.

Treatment Options for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with women to help them manage and overcome pelvic floor issues. Fortunately, we have more treatment options than ever before. Let’s break them down:

1. Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy- Pelvic floor physiotherapy involves working with a trained physiotherapist to strengthen the pelvic muscles through targeted exercises. This can be an effective treatment for many women, especially those who are first noticing symptoms. However, results can take time, and consistency is key. It requires a certain level of commitment, and for some women, it can be difficult to do the exercises regularly.

2. Pessaries- A pessary is a device inserted into the vagina to provide support to the pelvic organs. It can be particularly helpful for women with vaginal prolapse. While effective, pessaries require regular maintenance, and some women may find them uncomfortable or difficult to manage.

3. Surgery- For more severe cases of pelvic floor dysfunction, surgery may be recommended. This could involve procedures to repair a prolapse, treat incontinence, or correct structural issues in the pelvic region. While surgery can offer long-term relief, it comes with risks—like infection, long recovery periods, and post-surgical pain. It’s typically considered a last resort after other treatments have failed.

4. Emsella: A Non-Invasive Breakthrough- As a physician focused on women’s wellness, I’m particularly excited about Emsella—a ground- breaking treatment for pelvic floor dysfunction. Emsella uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology to stimulate and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. During an Emsella treatment session, you simply sit on a specially designed chair while the device sends electromagnetic waves to your pelvic floor. These waves cause powerful muscle contractions, strengthening the muscles, improving bladder control and sexual sensation.

Benefits of Emsella:

• Non-invasive: No surgery, no recovery time
• Quick treatments: Each session lasts only 30 minutes, and most women start to see results after 6-8 sessions
• No downtime: You can resume normal activities immediately after treatment
• Proven results: Emsella has been clinically proven to improve incontinence and pelvic strength

5. EmsculptNEO: Core to Floor- EmsculptNEO is another exciting treatment that combines high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy and radiofrequency to target both the pelvic floor muscles and the core. This dual-action approach strengthens the pelvic floor while also toning the abdominal muscles. It’s ideal for women who are dealing with both incontinence and general pelvic floor weakness, as it improves muscle tone in multiple areas.

Benefits of EmsculptNEO:

• Dual muscle strengthening: Targets both the pelvic floor and the abdominal muscles.
• Non-invasive and fast: Like Emsella, there’s no surgery or downtime, and treatments are quick.
• Effective for multiple concerns: Helps with incontinence, prolapse, and even diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal muscles that happens during pregnancy)

Take the First Step Toward a Better You

Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t have to control your life. With the right treatment, you can regain your strength, comfort, and confidence. Let’s work together to help you feel like yourself again. Contact us at espritMD to learn more and book your consultation today.

With warmth and care,

Dr. Christine Hatfield, MD

Gynecologist & Pelvic Health Expert

espritMD, Vernon, BC