The inability to relax and coordinate your pelvic floor muscles to have a bowel movement is known as pelvic floor dysfunction. It can also be the inability to control gas or hold in stool. If you have pelvic floor dysfunction, you may feel:

• A sense of incompleteness during a bowel movement;
• A feeling of rectal fullness or blockage;
• Constipation;
• The sensation that you cannot fully empty your bowels;
• A need to take a deep breath or bear down to start a bowel movement;
• Straining during a bowel movement;
• Pain with bowel movements;
• The leakage of stool or gas.

Symptoms

The symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction can vary depending on the type of dysfunction you have. However, some of the most common symptoms include:

• Urinary incontinence;
• Fecal incontinence;
• Pain during sex;
• Lower back pain;
• Pelvic pain.

Treatment

There are several things you can do to treat pelvic floor dysfunction. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may need to see a doctor or pelvic floor physical therapist. read more