The need for frequent urination can be disruptive, embarrassing, and frustrating. If you find yourself running to the bathroom more often than before, it could be a sign of pelvic floor dysfunction.

How Often Should You Urinate?

Typically, healthy adults urinate every 4-10 times in a 24 hour period.  However, individual factors like fluid intake and medications can influence this. If frequent urination is disruptive to your day, it may be a sign of a pelvic floor dysfunction.

Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction:

Frequent urination is just one symptom of PFD. Here are others to watch for:

• Sense of Urgency: Feeling a sudden, intense need to urinate, even if your bladder isn’t full.  You may also experience a loss of bladder control.
• Incomplete emptying: Feeling like you haven’t fully emptied your bladder after urination.
• Stress incontinence: Leaking urine with laughing, coughing, sneezing, or exercise.
• Discomfort: A feeling of heaviness in the pelvis or back, pain during sex, or reduced vaginal sensation.

What Causes Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?

The pelvic floor muscles support your bladder, uterus, and rectum. When these muscles weaken, it can affect bladder control and lead to PFD. Common causes include:

• Childbirth: Pregnancy and childbirth can weaken the pelvic floor muscles.
• Age: As we age, these muscles naturally lose strength.
• Obesity: Excess weight puts extra strain on the pelvic floor.
• Chronic conditions: Conditions like diabetes or neurological disorders can contribute to PFD.

Treatment Options for Frequent Urination due to PFD:

The good news is, frequent urination caused by PFD is treatable! Here are some options:

• Pelvic Floor Muscle Training: A physical therapist can teach you exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor.  These can include Kegel’s, hip bridges, and deep work exercises.
• Lifestyle Changes: Losing weight, diet changes, managing chronic conditions, and bladder training techniques can all help improve frequent urination.
• Elitone: Elitone is an external device used for pelvic floor muscle stimulation. It delivers gentle electrical pulses to stimulate and retrain these muscles.