Pelvic floor health is an area of physical health that's often overlooked in general healthcare circles. In fact, it typically only comes to light when pelvic floor dysfunction and its symptoms arise. This is a trend worth addressing, especially considering that prevention is the key to addressing pelvic floor issues before they develop into persistent health complaints.
The pelvic floor is the area of the body located between the pubic bone and the coccyx. It contains several ligaments and muscles that line this area. They form a structure that supports your reproductive organs, bowels, and bladder. According to UCLA Health, a strong, healthy pelvic floor forms the foundation for lasting reproductive, bladder, gastrointestinal, and sexual well-being. However, if the pelvic floor begins to weaken, the organs it supports can shift in place and suffer from ongoing dysfunction.
If you or your clients are experiencing issues with your pelvic floor, you aren't alone. Studies from the National Institutes of Health have found that 24% of U.S. women suffer from at least one pelvic floor disorder. The data also shows that the frequency of these disorders rises with age. Up to 40% of women between 60 and 79 - and 50% of women aged 80 and older – suffer from pelvic floor dysfunction.
Read on as we explore the latest facts and statistics around pelvic floor health. We'll also break down science-backed methods you can use to support it.
Pelvic floor dysfunction describes a wide range of health impacts caused by a weakening of the muscles and tissues in the pelvic floor. According to the University of California, San Francisco's (UCSF) Department of Surgery, pelvic floor disorders develop when the pelvic muscles and connective tissue in the area are either injured, damaged, or substantially weakened.
The UCSF notes that around one-third of all women are affected by some type of pelvic floor disorder throughout their lifetimes. These issues often result from:
The UCSF Department of Surgery has highlighted some of the most common forms of pelvic floor dysfunction among women in the United States. Pelvic organ prolapse is one of the most prevalent disorders. It happens when the pelvic tissue and muscles can no longer hold the pelvic organs firmly in place.
This group of disorders can include uterine prolapse, in which the uterus inverts due to increased pressure. It also includes vaginal prolapse, in which the vagina loses its structural support and shifts in place. Pelvic floor dysfunction can also lead to urinary and fecal incontinence as the bladder or bowels move out of place.
The University of Utah Health notes that around one in three women with pelvic floor dysfunction will experience urinary incontinence and leakage. A further one in three will also suffer from a prolapse, highlighting just how serious common pelvic floor disorders can be.
Pelvic floor dysfunction affects millions of lives on a global scale. It causes serious health issues that impact patients' quality of life and can entail considerable costs. One 2025 study published in CellPress states that childbirth is the number-one most important risk factor for developing pelvic floor dysfunction. Vaginal delivery was associated with the highest level of risk.
According to the study, pelvic floor dysfunction affects nearly 50% of women who have given birth vaginally or by C-section within 10 years of delivery.
Overall, the researchers found that half of the women studied had one or more pelvic floor dysfunctions during the decade after their deliveries. Moreover:
Half of these women reported their symptoms as mild or moderate. A third of them felt that their symptoms constituted pelvic floor dysfunction.
Hysterectomies, colorectal and bladder surgeries, and prolapse repair procedures all carry risks of post-operative pelvic floor dysfunction. A recent meta-analysis published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology assessed more than 3.56 million women who had undergone hysterectomies.
The research found that within the first ten years after the operation, these procedures were linked with a higher likelihood of:
Further surgeries may be needed to correct these unwanted after-effects.
Around 20% of U.S. women will undergo surgery to correct common pelvic floor disorders by the age of 80, according to data from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
According to a recent 2026 study published in the International Urogynecology Journal, survivors of pelvic cancers are at a higher risk of experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction. This is particularly true for patients who have received radiotherapy treatments.
The study of 1,667 women found that:
Additionally, a further 30% of these women dealt with ongoing pelvic pain, and 19% faced sexual dysfunction caused by the radiation damaging and weakened pelvic tissues during radiotherapy.
Overall, the study suggests that proactive screening is the gold standard for addressing pelvic floor issues after radiotherapy. It can also significantly improve patients' quality of life.
Pre-rehabilitation treatments, such as Kegel exercises, were also found to have a protective effect against pelvic floor dysfunction. These exercises were recommended to patients to help them strengthen their pelvic floors and avoid pelvic disorders and their associated health impacts. These exercises can be done by men and women, and when practiced consistently, they can improve muscle control, support recovery, and reduce the risk of developing long-term issues.
Hip pain is a common challenge among women, especially during the postpartum, peri-menopausal, and menopausal phases of life. Origin's State of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy 2025 report estimates that around 50% of women also experience lumbopelvic and hip pain during pregnancy.
Interestingly, there is a clear connection between these types of pain and pelvic floor disorders. The report notes that up to 95% of women who suffer from lumbopelvic pain have some form of pelvic floor dysfunction. This suggests that hip and back pain could, in many cases, actually be driven by a weak pelvic floor.
There are a few key reasons for this. Women's wider pelvises and deeper hip sockets place greater strain on their hip joints. Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy and menopause can cause the pelvic floor muscles and ligaments to atrophy as well, which may contribute to acute or chronic pain.
While the focus of pelvic floor health discussions is often women, men are also at risk of developing pelvic floor disorders. A 2022 study found that pelvic floor symptoms like lower urinary tract symptoms, defecation disorders, sexual issues, and pelvic pain are relatively common among men. Out of the men included in the study, 80% showed some degree of muscle dysfunction. Plus, according to the Mayo Clinic, as many as 10% of all men will experience pelvic floor-related urinary leakage during their lifetimes.
New research published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport has shed more light on the rates of PFD in men. According to the review, the included studies reported rates of lower urinary tract symptoms (including urinary incontinence) ranging from 3.8% to 18.8%.
One of the studies focused on many pelvic floor issues and found that 61.8% of its participants suffered from anal incontinence. Statistics like these show that pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms are widespread in men as well. This is especially true for those who are very active and participate in high-impact sports.
Many cases of pelvic floor health can be treated without invasive surgeries, and pelvic floor physical therapy can be used by people of all ages. It serves both as a preventative measure and a treatment, helping to improve the tone and coordination of the muscles in the pelvic area.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, biofeedback is one of the most common interventions for pelvic floor dysfunction. It's often used alongside physical therapy and uses sensors and video imaging to analyze your pelvic floor muscles as you tighten and relax them. Based on the data provided, a healthcare provider will then give you targeted exercises to improve your muscle strength and coordination.
Relaxation exercises are also widely recommended. A healthcare professional or physical therapist may recommend strategies such as yoga, gentle exercise, meditation, or even acupuncture to reduce tension in the pelvic floor and improve its health and function. Initial studies have found positive effects of these techniques, particularly for conditions such as bladder outlet obstruction (BOO).
In more severe cases, trigger point injections may also be recommended. A healthcare provider can identify the specific muscles that are carrying tension in your pelvic floor. From there, they will inject these muscles with pain medication to relieve pain and promote relaxation. Aside from these methods, pelvic floor muscle training is another recommended strategy that can improve pelvic floor health in people of all ages.
Pelvic floor rehabilitation, including techniques such as pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), is widely considered one of the most effective preventive measures and treatments for pelvic floor disorders.
A 2024 review on pelvic floor rehabilitation for the treatment of urinary incontinence in athletes found that up to 80% of female athletes in high-impact sports suffer from urinary leakage. In this group, the study found that PMFT was a safe and effective treatment. This was true both for the prevention and the management of urinary incontinence.
Another recent systematic review found that PMFT effectively improved the symptoms of sexual dysfunction in women with pelvic floor disorders, although they noted that more high-quality evidence was needed to fully prove its efficacy in this area. The evidence of exercise for treating PFD in postpartum women is strong, however. A review of 65 studies across 24 countries has found that postpartum pelvic floor muscle training may reduce the risk of some of the most common pelvic floor issues, including urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
A Biomedical Journal study published in 2026 suggests that a multidisciplinary approach holds significant value for managing pelvic floor disorders. The review finds that the integration of medical specialties, including urogynecology, colorectal surgery, physiotherapy, urology, and psychology, allows healthcare providers to offer patients holistic care while reducing complications and symptom recurrence and optimizing patient satisfaction and health outcomes.
Simply put, treating pelvic floor health holistically has notable benefits for patients' well-being. It may be invaluable in restoring their pelvic function and reducing PFD symptoms, even without surgery and invasive healthcare procedures.
Digital approaches may also bridge the gap, providing pelvic floor health resources without the time and cost barriers of in-clinic care. A study on a digital women's health program gave participants personalized exercise therapy sessions, health education articles, and online health coaching.
After one month, the group with access to the program reported a 44% decrease in pain scores, and a 53.6% decrease by the 12-week mark. After 12 weeks, the study's participants were also 11% less likely to suffer from moderate or severe depression, highlighting the power of education for pelvic health improvement.
A new type of physical therapy may also hold promise. A study on the Abdominal Hypopressive Technique (focused on breathing and posture) found that it may be a safe and effective intervention for pelvic floor rehabilitation. After eight weeks of three 30-minute sessions per week, the women using this technique showed significantly improved pelvic floor muscle strength, muscle efficiency, and load absorption capacity.
Those who stay consistent with their physical therapy seem to achieve the best results. A 2025 meta-analysis on adherence to pelvic floor exercise therapy found that those who adhered to their therapy programs in the short term experienced improved quality of life compared to their peers.
While pelvic floor exercises have much evidence supporting them, sticking with your exercise program is the key to lasting pain relief and pelvic health.
Studies suggest that patient education can be an effective tool for raising awareness of pelvic health, but that ongoing educational sessions are essential for improving women's knowledge, increasing exercise adherence, and equipping them with the skills they need to take control of their own health.
Pelvic floor dysfunction is widespread and doesn't discriminate between men and women of any age. While poor pelvic health can cause a cascade of unwanted symptoms and disorders, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that it can be effectively nurtured and preserved with the right strategies.
Methods like relaxation techniques and pelvic floor muscle training have been shown to address some of the most common disorders associated with PFD, from urinary incontinence to sexual dysfunction and beyond. These interventions were proven even more effective when paired with proper pelvic floor health education and a holistic approach to patients' well-being.
Overall, consistency is key to improving pelvic health. Performing recommended exercises regularly, as recommended by a healthcare provider, can go a long way in reducing pain and unwanted symptoms and restoring patients' quality of life.
As a physical therapist, you also play a vital role, whether you're treating aged patients or those in their younger years. By providing your clients with the education, tools, resources, and motivation they need, you can empower them to take full control over their pelvic floor and their overall health.