Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
The pelvic floor is a sling of muscle supporting the bladder, bowel and uterus, and controlling continence. At Modern Physio we focus on understanding the root-cause of your problem & personalizing your treatment for lasting results.
Understanding Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
The pelvic floor is a sling of muscle supporting the bladder, bowel and uterus, and controlling continence. When it works poorly — too weak, too tight, or poorly coordinated — the result can be leakage when you cough, sneeze or laugh, a sudden urgency you cannot defer, a sensation of heaviness or dragging, or pain. These symptoms are extremely common, particularly after childbirth and around menopause, and being common is not the same as being something you have to accept. Supervised pelvic floor muscle training is a first-line treatment with good evidence behind it. At Modern Physio in Jaipur this is assessed and treated by Dr. Surabhi Bansal, a female physiotherapist, in English or Hindi.
Common Symptoms
- Leaking urine when coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting or exercising
- A sudden urge to pass urine that is difficult to defer
- Needing to pass urine more often than feels normal
- A feeling of heaviness, dragging or a bulge in the vagina
- Difficulty emptying the bladder or bowel completely
- Reduced sensation or awareness of the pelvic floor muscles
- Pain in the pelvis, or discomfort with intercourse
- Symptoms that worsen towards the end of the day or after standing
How Common Is It?
Pelvic floor symptoms are among the most common problems women experience after childbirth and around menopause, and are widely under-reported — many women describe having assumed for years that leakage was simply a normal consequence of having had children.
Causes & Risk Factors
- Pregnancy and childbirth, particularly with a long second stage or assisted delivery
- Repeated straining from constipation
- Chronic cough
- Heavy lifting, at work or in the gym, without pelvic floor control
- Hormonal changes around menopause
- Previous pelvic surgery
- Pelvic floor muscles that are overactive and tight rather than weak — a commonly missed pattern
Our Diagnosis Process
- A detailed history of bladder and bowel habits, symptoms and what provokes them
- Discussion of your obstetric history and any surgery
- Assessment of breathing, posture, and how your abdomen and pelvic floor work together
- Assessment of pelvic floor muscle strength, endurance and coordination — with consent, and with the option to decline any part of it
- Distinguishing weakness from overactivity, because the treatment for each is the opposite of the other
- Referral to your gynaecologist where symptoms suggest something needing medical assessment
Our Treatment Approach
- Supervised pelvic floor muscle training — the first-line treatment, and much more effective when technique is checked rather than assumed
- Down-training and relaxation where the muscles are overactive, before any strengthening begins
- Coordinating breathing, abdominal control and pelvic floor activation, so the system works as one
- Bladder retraining for urgency and frequency
- Load management: how to lift, cough and exercise without repeatedly straining the pelvic floor
- Bowel habit advice, since straining undoes a great deal of pelvic floor work
Recovery & Prevention Tips
- Technique first, repetitions second — pelvic floor exercises done wrongly can make an overactive floor worse
- Consistency matters more than intensity; small daily practice beats occasional long sessions
- Treat constipation properly — straining is one of the most preventable causes of ongoing symptoms
- Exhale on effort when lifting, rather than holding your breath and bearing down
- Expect gradual change over weeks to months, not days
Products That Can Help
Supports and equipment we fit at the clinic that patients with this condition commonly use alongside treatment — never instead of it.
Evidence & Sources
Pelvic floor muscle training is a first-line treatment for urinary incontinence and is recommended before surgical options are considered.
NHS — Urinary incontinencePelvic organ prolapse causes a dragging or bulge sensation and is managed conservatively with pelvic floor muscle training in many cases.
NHS — Pelvic organ prolapseFrequently Asked Questions
Is leaking urine after childbirth just something I have to live with?
No. It is common, which is different from normal or permanent. Supervised pelvic floor muscle training is a recognised first-line treatment and helps a great many women. If it does not, that itself is useful information and a reason for gynaecological assessment rather than resignation.
Will the assessment involve an internal examination?
It may, because it is the most accurate way to assess muscle function — but it is done only with your explicit consent, it is explained fully beforehand, and you can decline it and still be treated. Useful assessment and treatment are possible without it.
Are Kegel exercises always the answer?
No, and this matters. Where the pelvic floor is overactive and tight, more squeezing makes symptoms worse. That is why assessment comes before exercises are prescribed — the same symptom can need opposite treatments.
Is a female physiotherapist available?
Yes. Dr. Surabhi Bansal, who founded Modern Physio, provides women's health physiotherapy herself, and consultations can be in Hindi or English.
I have a bulge or heaviness. Is that a prolapse?
Those sensations can indicate pelvic organ prolapse, which should be assessed medically for grading. Pelvic floor muscle training is part of conservative management for many women. Physiotherapy here runs alongside your obstetrician or gynaecologist, never instead of them. Dr. Surabhi Bansal is a physiotherapist, not a physician: the clinic does not prescribe medication and has no imaging or scanning on site.
Medically Reviewed
This content was reviewed for medical accuracy by Dr. Surabhi Bansal, BPT, MPT (Ortho) with 14+ years of clinical experience.
At Modern Physio, all medical content undergoes a thorough review process to ensure accuracy and alignment with current physiotherapy standards. Our content is created to educate and should not replace professional medical advice. Learn more about our review process.
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