Women’s Pelvic Health

July 29, 2019

By Robert Recker

The pelvic area and pelvic floor are central to maintaining bladder and bowel control. A woman’s pelvic region includes the reproductive organs, rectum, bladder, and other muscles and organs. Pelvic floor issues are often a result of childbirth, but can also be due to genetic disorders, obesity, and age-related changes. However, pelvic floor issues like incontinence and pain are not normal! And these issues can be treated!

What is the Pelvic Floor?

A woman’s pelvic area is made up of muscles and organs. These include the anus, rectum, uterus, bladder, pubic bone, urethra, vagina, and pelvic floor muscles. Together, and functioning properly, the pelvic area allows for reproduction, bladder and bowel control, and more. When there is pressure or changes to the pelvic area (from childbirth, excessive weight, or age-related changes) the pelvic floor and surrounding muscles and organs do not function properly.

What are Pelvic Floor Issues?

The most common pelvic floor issues are stress incontinence, overactive bladder, and prolapse. Here we will discuss stress incontinence and overactive bladder.

Stress Incontinence

Stress incontinence is when urinary leakage occurs due to stress on the bladder. This typically happens when laughing, coughing, sneezing, or jumping. Any activity that causes your bladder or bowel muscles to tighten can cause urine to leak if you are experiencing stress incontinence. It is estimated that about 1 in 4 women will experience stress incontinence. Stress incontinence is often a result of changes in the body, such as pregnancy and childbirth, menopause, and various surgeries.

Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder is described by frequent urination and strong, sudden urges to urinate. Typically, people with overactive bladder urinate more than eight times a day and awaken multiple times in the night to go. Overactive bladder may also be accompanied by urge incontinence, which includes the sudden urge to urinate, but the incontinence is loss of urine prior to getting to the toilet. About 1 in 7 women experience overactive bladder, and many report that overactive bladder affects their daily activities and physical activities.

What Should I Do?

If you are experiencing pelvic floor issues such as stress incontinence or overactive bladder, it is important you talk with a medical professional, such as your primary care doctor or a urologist. Don’t wait! On average, women wait 6.5 years from the first symptoms of bladder control problems until they receive a diagnosis.

It is also helpful to find absorbent pads to keep you protected. Most women who just start experiencing bladder control problems start with using feminine hygiene products. These products are not designed to absorb urine! For better protection and coverage, women need to find and purchase incontinence pads. These pads are designed for light to moderate incontinence and are inserted into regular underwear. They are soft, thin, and absorbent, so you can have the protection you need while continuing the activities you enjoy. Pads are great for protection while you are working with your urologist to improve your bladder control!

How Tranquility Can Help

Tranquility has an assortment of pads and liners for women with pelvic floor issues. If you are experiencing light to moderate leakage (drips and dribbles to partial voids), Tranquility has a solution for you. The Tranquility Personal Care Pad has a contoured shape to fit the female anatomy, cloth-like soft material, and is inserted into regular underwear for a discrete fit. Alternatively, the Tranquility Adult Liner is a wider and longer pad with great absorbency that is inserted into regular underwear. For plus sizes, the Tranquility Super-Plus Liner is super absorbent and ideal for larger women who need discrete protection.

Tranquility specializes in managing bladder control issues so that adults experiencing bladder issues can continue enjoying life! For women experiencing pelvic floor problems, talk to your doctor and try a Tranquility pad. Stay protected while you work with your doctor to improve your condition. If you need any help finding the right product, try our product finder or call the Tranquility Care Center at 1-866-865-6101 Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.