Demonstrated expertise:
Our team has decades of experience diagnosing and treating all types of pelvic floor disorders. We were among the first to offer a fellowship in this specialty — and have trained many leaders in the field. Meet our team.
A lot of things can go wrong when your pelvic floor isn’t working the way it should — and it’s not always easy to talk about what’s going on.
Things like accidentally leaking pee or poop (incontinence), not being able to poop (constipation), pain during sex or feeling like something’s falling out of your body (pelvic organ prolapse) aren’t easy to talk about. It’s natural to want to ignore what’s going on rather than open up about it, but pelvic floor disorders are far more common than you think. And they can affect anyone.
Talking openly with experienced healthcare providers is an important first step. At Cleveland Clinic, our caring team wants you to share what you’ve been experiencing. We’re here to listen, support you and find the best treatment. And we’ll make sure you feel safe and supported when you let us know what’s going on.
Our team has decades of experience diagnosing and treating all types of pelvic floor disorders. We were among the first to offer a fellowship in this specialty — and have trained many leaders in the field. Meet our team.
We use minimally invasive techniques whenever possible to reduce discomfort and support a smoother, faster recovery.
Our experts constantly work to improve pelvic floor treatments. You may also have access to clinical trials with promising options not widely available elsewhere.
We offer convenient virtual visits for some appointments so you can meet with your provider from the comfort of your home.
Cleveland Clinic is a trusted healthcare leader. We're recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for our expertise and care.
Your pelvis houses a lot of organs — your bladder, urethra, small and large intestines, rectum and reproductive organs. Your pelvic floor muscles support all this — and more. If these muscles become too loose or weak, the organs can shift out of place, and you may develop a pelvic floor disorder, like:
A weak pelvic floor can also cause pelvic organ prolapse, where different organs can bulge or slip out of place, like:
Here’s an important thing to remember— you don’t have to “just live” with pelvic floor disorders. These uncomfortable, inconvenient and often painful conditions are treatable, and our team is here to support you.
The path to personalized treatment begins with an honest conversation between you and your provider. We know talking about this condition isn’t always easy, but sharing your story with us helps us plan the best care for you.
Your provider will begin by asking about your symptoms and medical history. It helps to be open and honest about what you’re experiencing, how it affects your life and how you feel.
They’ll also do physical, pelvic and rectal exams. Depending on your symptoms, you could need other tests. You may be able to have some of these during your first appointment, while others may require a follow-up appointment or two.
If pelvic floor problems are causing urinary incontinence, we may do tests to see how well the organs and muscles in your urinary tract work. We’ll also want to check how you pee and look for other health conditions. You may have tests like:
If you’re experiencing fecal incontinence, we’ll want to find out if weak muscles, nerve problems or another condition is causing it by using tests like:
Getting the most personalized treatment means you may see providers from different specialties. Depending on the type of pelvic floor disorder you have, you might meet with:
Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations throughout Northeast Ohio and Florida.
We can treat most pelvic floor disorders without surgery or with only minimally invasive procedures. Your care team may recommend:
You’ll begin treatment with physical therapy. In your sessions, your therapist will help you understand which muscles in your lower back, pelvis and pelvic floor are tight or not working as they should. They may do a physical exam or use painless sensors to see how your pelvic muscles respond — a technique called biofeedback.
Based on what they learn, your plan will include exercises to stretch and strengthen your pelvic floor. Our team may also recommend:
Bladder or bowel training may also be part of your care. This helps you build a more regular bathroom routine by teaching your body to go less often.
You’ll do some of these activities during your sessions and others at home.
Different medications can help manage pelvic floor disorders and their symptoms, including:
We may recommend a pessary — a removable device placed in your vagina — to support your pelvic organs and manage symptoms like prolapse or urine leaks. We’ll fit it during an office visit. You can remove and clean it at home, or your provider can help with that during follow-ups.
Minimally invasive options to treat urinary or fecal incontinence don’t typically require a hospital stay or a large incision (cut). Some of these include:
If other treatments haven’t worked, or you have severe urinary or bowel problems, we may recommend surgery like:
If other treatments haven’t helped, our team may talk with you about a colostomy — a last-resort option involving major surgery. Your provider creates an opening in your belly (abdomen) to bring part of your colon to the surface of your skin. Poop then passes into a special pouch worn on the outside of your body. It’s a big step, but many people find this surgery improves their quality of life — and we’ll be here to guide and support you through the process.
Pelvic floor disorders can affect your daily life. You might hesitate to talk about your symptoms, but these problems don’t have to be kept quiet, especially with your healthcare provider. If you have a pelvic floor disorder or think you might, our team is here to listen and support you. We want to help you get back to doing the things you love — without worries.
Getting an appointment with one of our pelvic floor disorders experts is easy. We’re here to help you get the care you need.
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