21 Signs You Need a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist

Wonder if pelvic floor physical therapy may be right for you?

Here are twenty-one signs you need a pelvic floor physical therapist. If you answered YES to any of these, it is time to see a pelvic floor specialist for a consultation.

Pee Problems

1. Frequent urination?
   • Peeing before the gym, in the middle of the workout, AND after the workout? That’s “frequent.”
   • Peeing every hour? Every 30 minutes? That’s “frequent.”
2. A STRONG sensation of needing to go pee & (sometimes or all the time) not making it to the toilet in time?
   • It’s called “urgency,” and it’s a clear sign of a pelvic floor issue.
3. Even if you’re not completely wetting your pants, are you leaking small drops of pee?
4. Difficulty completely emptying your bladder?
5. Needing to push up on a bulge in the vaginal area with your fingers to start or complete urination?

Pressure Problems

1. Leaking with coughing, sneezing, laughing? Or with:
   • Double unders, hurdle-hops, box jumps, broad jumps, deadlifts, cleans, jerks?
   • Barbell or dumbbell exercise?
   • Running?
   • These are all issues with increased “intra-abdominal pressure” or “IAP” & signs you need a pelvic floor physical therapy.
2. Pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen or genital region?
3. Feelings of pressure in the lower abdomen?
4. Feeling heaviness or dullness in the pelvic area?
5. Bulging of the rectum during or after a bowel movement?
6. Having a “bulge” that you can see or feel in the vaginal area?Feelings or concerns of Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) can be addressed with your pelvic floor physical therapist

Poo Problems

1. Feeling the need to strain hard to have a bowel movement?
2. Feeling like you haven’t completely emptied your bowels at the end of a BM?
3. Needing to push on the vagina or around the rectum to have or complete a bowel movement?
4. Losing stool either loose or formed? This is called anal incontinence.
5. Accidentally passing gas when you’d rather hold it in? Also anal incontinence. Also can be helped with pelvic floor physical therapy.
6. Experiencing a strong sense of urgency and rushing to the bathroom to have a bowel movement?

Pain Problems

Pain with:

1. Passing stool?
2. Sexual intercourse?
3. Tampon insertion?
4. OBGYN exams?

Did you answer “YES?”

All of these are signs you may benefit from a pelvic floor physical therapist to assess & help you treat the pelvic floor. (Adapted from the PFDI-20)

Still not sure if Pelvic Floor PT is right for you?

Never been pregnant? Several of these issues are present in women before pregnancies / without children, and they can & should be addressed.

In your postpartum journey? Prevent & treat these issues and take care of your healing body and pelvic floor.

Planning to become pregnant? Learn how to prevent, manage, and treat these issues now. Early care is better care.

Currently pregnant? These issues can be treated AND prevented, even during pregnancy. This will make your postpartum return much simpler. And while we’re at it, go ahead & download this postpartum guide to prep for your return:

About the Author

Dr. Alexis Morgan, PT, DPT is a physical therapist specially trained in internal pelvic floor assessment & treatment. She combines her extensive knowledge of exercise physiology alongside women’s health issues to optimize life & performance for her clients.

Dr. Alexis teaches other providers across the US and Canada how to better treat female athletes with the Institute of Clinical Excellence. Book a session with Dr. Alexis either in person or via telehealth today.