What Is Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (and How It Really Shows Up in Your Life)
It Starts Small…
You laugh with a friend and feel a tiny leak.
You sneeze and cross your legs out of habit.
You finish a workout and notice pressure in your lower belly.
You brush it off—because that’s “normal,” right?
Pelvic floor dysfunction usually begins quietly and subtly
Then one day it’s not so subtle anymore…
What Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Actually Is
Your pelvic floor isn’t one muscle—it’s an entire system of muscles, fascia, nerves, and connective tissue working like a hammock to support your bladder, uterus, and bowels.
When that system stops coordinating the way it should, we call it pelvic floor dysfunction.
Sometimes it’s too weak to do its job.
Sometimes it’s too tight to relax.
And sometimes it’s both. Confused by stress, posture, hormones, or the way you move and breathe.
It’s not just a “mom thing.”
It’s not a “get older” thing.
And it’s definitely not a “just do your Kegels” thing.
How It Shows Up in Everyday Life
Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t look the same for everyone. But it always finds a way to make itself known.
You might notice:
Leaking when you laugh, sneeze, run, or lift something heavy
A constant urge to pee, or feeling like you can’t fully empty
Pressure, heaviness, or bulging in your pelvis
Pain with sex or tampon use
Low-back, hip, or tailbone pain that never fully goes away
Bloating that seems unrelated to food
Core weakness or a belly “pooch” that just won’t budge postpartum
If any of that sounds familiar, it’s not random.
It’s your body’s way of whispering that something deeper needs attention.
The Hidden Mental + Emotional Side
No one talks about what pelvic floor dysfunction does to your confidence.
The anxiety before a workout.
The shame of leaking in public.
The quiet frustration of feeling disconnected from your body and not knowing who to ask for help.
You start planning your life around symptoms: bathroom breaks, black leggings, avoiding certain movements, even intimacy.
It’s exhausting.
And over time, that constant worry triggers your nervous system to stay in fight-or-flight, keeping your muscles tense and your symptoms stuck.
It’s a loop (physical and emotional) that you can absolutely break once you understand what’s happening.
Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Get Help
Before you brush it off and pretend it’s not happening, I need you to know this: The longer dysfunction goes untreated, the more your body has to compensate.
When one muscle can’t relax, another works overtime.
When your breathing pattern is off, pressure builds where it shouldn’t.
When stress runs the show, your pelvic floor stays clenched for protection.
Early help doesn’t just prevent things from getting worse—it makes healing faster.
Your body wants to recover; it just needs guidance before those patterns become habits.
So no, waiting isn’t “being strong.” It’s like ignoring your check-engine light and hoping for the best.
Watch: “How Pelvic Floor Issues Actually Show Up”
If this all sounds a little too familiar, take a minute to watch this quick video below.
👇 Press play below!
In this video, I explain the signs your pelvic floor is asking for help and what to do before things get worse.
You don’t have to have it all figured out right now.
Start by understanding what your body’s been trying to tell you.
Take the free Pelvic Floor Quiz to find out what your symptoms actually mean and get your next steps for relief.
It takes less than five minutes—and it’s the perfect place to start.
Once you’ve got your results, you’ll know exactly where to focus your energy (and if you need a deeper plan, we can talk from there).
You’ve spent long enough wondering what’s “normal.”
Now it’s time to take the first step that actually moves you forward.
Our pelvic health experts will help you connect the dots, understand your symptoms, and design a plan that works so you can get back to living life without worry.
