Who's at risk?

Some people are more at risk of developing pelvic floor problems than others. These include:

women who are pregnant or have recently had a baby (postnatal)
women who have ever had a baby
women who are going through, or have been through, menopause
women who have had gynaecological surgery (e.g. hysterectomy)
men who have had prostate surgery, and
elite athletes such as gymnasts, runners or trampolinists.

Additional risk factors that can increase a person's risk of developing pelvic floor problems include:

a history of back pain
previous trauma to the pelvic region such as a fall or pelvic radiotherapy
ongoing constipation (i.e., regularly straining to empty your bowels)
a chronic cough or sneeze (e.g. due to asthma, smoking or hayfever)
being overweight, or having a body mass index above 25, and
heavy lifting on a regular basis - either at work or at the gym.

If you experience pelvic floor (or bladder or bowel control) problems it is advisable to see a continence professional to determine the cause of your symptoms and discuss the best treatment and management options to suit your needs.