Faith. Friendship. Growth. Grace.

You're in The Village · for mothers

You're in The Gate · for fathers

For fathersThe GateFor mothersThe Village

Take this to your appointment

Pelvic Floor Symptoms

Pelvic floor symptoms are among the most under-reported things in women's health, because they feel embarrassing and because so many women assume they are simply the price of having had children. They are common. They are also very often treatable, and this guide helps you raise them.

All the guides

Integrative wellness also means knowing when to ask deeper questions. Bring this with you; tick what applies; add your own. It is a starting point for a conversation with someone qualified — not a checklist that decides anything on its own.

Symptoms and patterns worth mentioning

  • Leaking urine — when it happens, how much, and how often
  • Difficulty holding on, or needing to go urgently or very frequently
  • A feeling of heaviness, dragging, or a bulge in the vagina, especially late in the day
  • Pain in the pelvis, low back, or with intimacy
  • Difficulty emptying your bladder or bowels fully, or leaking wind or stool
  • A gap along the middle of your belly, or a belly that domes when you sit up
  • How any of this affects exercise, intimacy, or leaving the house

Questions to ask

  • Does what I am describing sound like a pelvic floor issue, and what kind?
  • Would a referral to a pelvic floor physical therapist be appropriate for me?
  • Are there things I should avoid, or do differently, while this is being looked at?
  • What are my options if physical therapy alone is not enough?

History worth bringing

  • Pregnancies and births — including tearing, forceps or vacuum, long pushing stages, or caesareans
  • Any pelvic or abdominal surgery
  • Chronic cough, constipation, or heavy lifting in your daily life
  • Menopause status, since hormonal changes can affect these tissues
  • Previous treatments or exercises you have tried

Evaluations to ask your provider about

  • Ask your healthcare provider whether a pelvic examination or pelvic floor assessment is appropriate
  • Ask whether a referral to pelvic floor physical therapy would be a sensible first step
  • Your provider may consider checking for a urinary infection if urgency or frequency is new
  • If prolapse is suspected, ask what evaluation and options are appropriate in your case

Fruitful Village provides educational wellness information and is not a substitute for medical care, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding symptoms, medications, supplements or medical concerns.

A gentle reminder: Fruitful Village shares educational information about natural and holistic family wellness. It isn't medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it doesn't replace your midwife, OB, or pediatrician. Please talk to your provider before starting anything — especially for babies under twelve months, in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, or alongside any prescription. Read the full disclaimer.

Sunday Letters

A Sunday Letter from the Village

A quiet note for your Sunday — something for your faith, your heart, your home, or your health. No pressure. No noise. Just encouragement from our Village to yours.

One thoughtful email. Unsubscribe anytime. Your address is never sold or shared.

The other door

The Gate

Nobody hands you the manual.

The fathers' side of this house. Written for him, in his language — so you can send him something rather than summarize it.

The Workshop · The Forge · The Watch · The Field

Show him The Gate

The other door

The Village

You don't have to do motherhood alone.

Lissa's side of this house, and where most of it began. If she sent you here, this is what she has been reading.

The Well · The Table · The Garden · The Chapel · The Home

Go into the Village