pelvic floor physical therapy isn’t just for people with internal genitals
I feel like it’s a common misconception that pelvic floor physical therapy is only for those that identify as female or have a third pelvic opening. And, unfortunately, this is how pelvic floor physical therapy is frequently marketed to the public. That only people that have internal genitals (or vaginas) are subject to pelvic floor dysfunction like leaking of urine with a strong urge to urinate or different activities like coughing and sneezing, urinary urgency or frequency, pelvic pain including pain during sex, constipation, and leaking of stool or gas. But this is not true! Everyone has a pelvic floor regardless of your gender identity or expression. This includes people that have erectile tissue (or a penis).
Research shows that as many as 16% of people that have external genitalia have pelvic floor dysfunction…and I believe this number is probably grossly underestimated due to societal stigma for people that do not identify as female to feel comfortable talking about their pelvic floor and ongoing pelvic floor symptoms.
Regardless of your anatomy, everyone poops, pees, and has sex (or will engage in some form of intimacy at some point in their life!).
As a Board-Certified Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist, I wish everyone was educated about their pelvic anatomy. Similar to people with internal genitalia, people with external genitalia have a urethral and anal opening. You still have pelvic floor muscles that wrap around these two openings to help prevent leaking of urine, stool, and gas. On the same note, these muscles also need to lengthen and release to be able to have any form of pelvic penetration pain-free and to be able to empty the bladder and bowels when using the restroom.
Are you experiencing pain during receptive intercourse? Pelvic pain during bowel movements, urination, the urge to urinate or defecate, or in the abdominal or pelvic region? Difficulty emptying your bladder completely or struggling with constipation? Or maybe you are experiencing urinary urgency or frequency? This could be an indicator that you may have tension in the pelvic floor musculature that could be contributing to your symptoms.
Are you having leaking of urine with different activities like coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise? Back pain? Or maybe you are struggling with leaking of stool or gas beyond your control during activities of increased intra-abdominal pressure? Sometimes this is an indicator that you could have weakness in your pelvic floor musculature (which can sometimes also be contributed to by excess tension in the muscles) which could be causing your symptoms.
*As always, this is not intended to be medical advice. I would always recommend working one on one with a pelvic floor physical therapist to have specialized treatment based on you, your presentation, and your pelvic floor symptoms.
Dr. Brook Orvis is a Board-Certified Women’s Health and Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist, Duke Residency-Trained in Women’s Health, and the owner of Flora Physical Therapy. As a momma to a spirited toddler, she understands the difficulty of being a parent while prioritizing self-care, including caring for your body and pelvic floor. She believes that pelvic floor therapy is for everyone and is passionate about providing accessible treatment options for birthing people, men, women, kids, and the LGBTQIA+ community so that they can take better care of themselves and receive equitable care. She loves educating and empowering clients to take charge of their body and health and to not accept leaking of urine, prolapse, pelvic pain, pain during sex, and core weakness as a normal part of being a human.
Do you have external genitalia and are having pelvic floor dysfunction, but are not sure where to start? Or do you know someone with pelvic floor dysfunction that could benefit from pelvic floor treatment? Reach out to schedule a pelvic floor physical therapy appointment with me today. At Flora Physical Therapy I am passionate about providing accessible options to everyone with a pelvic floor regardless of your gender identity or expression.
