If you're a woman, you should know about your pelvic floor and the important role it plays in your health.
The pelvic floor is a term that refers to muscles, ligaments, and connective tissue that support the pelvic organs, including the uterus and bladder.
These muscles and ligaments band together in the shape of a figure eight that surrounds the vaginal and rectal openings.
Not only supports the organs of the pelvic region, but it also plays a large part in ensuring that the organs of the area function properly.
A compromised pelvic floor can contribute to several conditions in women:

• Incontinence occurs when the muscles are not able to support the weight of a full bladder and thus leaking occurs.
  
• Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when it is too stretched out or weak to hold up one or more of your pelvic organs.
  The lack of muscular support causes the organs to fall from their normal position to the walls of your vagina.
  In particularly bad cases, the organ may protrude from the vagina.
  Any organ in the pelvic region can prolapse: the bladder, uterus, the bowels, rectum, or even the vagina itself.
  
• Lack of sexual sensation often occurs in women with a compromised pelvic floor.
  These women usually have difficulty or the inability to orgasm.
  

The pelvic floor can be adversely affected in two major ways: muscular damage and nervous damage.
Muscular Damage The muscles have a heavy burden to bear.
Over the course of a woman's life, the muscles undergo strain from a variety of factors that can stretch and weaken the muscles:

• The added weight of pregnancy
• Vaginal Birth
• Surgeries in the pelvic area, including c-sections and hysterectomies
• Being overweight
• Chronic Constipation

The negative impacts these factors have are further compounded by changing hormone levels throughout a woman's life.
Relaxin during pregnancy, for example, encourages the loosening of the muscles.
Dropped estrogen levels in menopause can also abet problems in the pelvic area.
Nerve Damage The muscles are ultimately controlled by the brain through a network of nerves.
Thus any condition that impacts the health of the nerves between the brain and the pelvic floor can cause problems in this area.
Medical issues that can affect nerve transmission to the pelvic floor include:

• Parkinson's disease
• Spinal Surgery
• Stroke
• Childbirth Trauma
• Diabetes

Most ob/gyns, midwives, and other well woman care providers recommend that women perform Kegel exercises to maintain and strengthen the pelvic floor.
A Kegel involves isolating and working the same muscle used to stop the flow of urine midstream.
If you are unable to isolate this muscle, you should contact your well woman provider-you may have a larger medical issue or injury affecting the functioning of your pelvic area.
Pelvic floor disorders can cause serious quality of life issues for women.
If you are concerned about the integrity of your pelvic floor, you should contact your well woman care provider for an appointment today.
Many of the conditions caused by weakened muscles can be improved by exercises or medical treatments.