Keeping the pelvic floor healthy

Area of Science:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Women's Health
• Gerontology

Background:

• The female pelvic floor muscles form a crucial diaphragm supporting pelvic organs like the urethra, vagina, and rectum.
• Menopause and aging can negatively affect pelvic floor muscle composition and function.
• These changes increase the risk of urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and genitourinary syndrome of menopause.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define pelvic floor muscles and their functions.
• To summarize changes in women's pelvic floor muscles during menopause, postmenopause, and aging.
• To review conservative management therapies for maintaining pelvic floor muscle health.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of evidence-based research.
• Focus on physiological changes and conservative management strategies.
• Analysis of direct and indirect effects of menopause and aging on pelvic floor muscles.

Main Results:

• Pelvic floor muscle alterations during menopause impact their functional capacity.
• Increased prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction, including urinary incontinence and prolapse, is observed.
• Conservative management offers effective strategies for pelvic floor muscle health.

Conclusions:

• Understanding pelvic floor muscle changes is vital for women's health during menopause and aging.
• Conservative therapies are key to maintaining pelvic floor muscle function and preventing dysfunction.
• Further research into evidence-based conservative management is warranted.