Originally published on June 1, 2022 by Vital Physiotherapy & Wellness, now part of the Bravella Health network. Original author: Nathalie.
Pelvic health is a topic that has been gaining more of a voice over the years (thank goodness!) but there’s still a lot of misinformation out there. So, we are going to give you some facts about what your pelvic floor really does!
The pelvic floor
The pelvic floor is made up of 3 layers of muscles and are responsible for 5 key roles.[1] These roles are:
To help support our organs (bladder, bowels, and uterus), which are like the engine of a car, against gravity. Picture a basket (pelvic floor) filled with a bunch of fruits (your organs!)[1]
To help maintain control of our bladder and bowels so you can choose when to go to the bathroom[1]
To provide stability to your spine and pelvis by working with other muscles. The pelvic floor will work with your tummy, back and breathing muscles. It’s like a bridge with a bunch of wires! The actual bridge (spine and pelvis) is needed to get from point A to point B but it’s all those wires (the inner core) that are letting the bridge do its job optimally (providing stability)[2]
To increase sexual satisfaction by helping with orgasms, sensation with sexual activity, and pain free intercourse[1,3]
To act as a sump pump to bring blood and lymphatics back to the heart with each contraction. Think of an almost empty toothpaste roll. The roll is your pelvic floor, and the toothpaste is your blood and lymphatics. When we want to get that leftover toothpaste that’s stuck at the bottom of our tube, we roll it up from the bottom (contract the pelvic floor) to push the toothpaste (blood and lymphatics) to the opening of the tube (the heart!)
Pelvic floor dysfunctions
Pelvic floor dysfunctions can happen when there’s weakness in the pelvic floor muscles. This can cause symptoms such as difficulty controlling your bladder and bowels and the feeling of fullness or pressure in the pelvic area. Dysfunctions can also be caused by tightness in the pelvic floor muscles leading to symptoms such as persistent pelvic pain, pain with intercourse, and difficulty controlling your bladder and bowels. It’s also possible to have a combination of pelvic muscles that are too tight and too weak.[4]
If you are ready to optimize your pelvic floor book an assessment with one of our pelvic floor physiotherapists now!
References
- Bordoni B, Sugumar K, Leslie SW. Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis: pelvic floor. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2026. Updated May 13, 2026. Accessed September 24, 2026. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482200/
- Hodges PW, Sapsford R, Pengel LHM. Postural and respiratory functions of the pelvic floor muscles. Neurourol Urodyn. 2007;26(3):362-371. doi:10.1002/nau.20232
- Jorge CH, Bø K, Catai CC, et al. Pelvic floor muscle training as treatment for female sexual dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2024;231(1):51-66.e1. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2024.01.001
- Frawley H, Shelly B, Morin M, et al. An International Continence Society (ICS) report on the terminology for pelvic floor muscle assessment. Neurourol Urodyn. 2021;40(5):1217-1260. doi:10.1002/nau.24658
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