Pelvic Floor Health: Why Every Woman Should Care
When most people hear the phrase core strength, they picture planks and Pilates. Yet beneath the visible abdominal muscles lies a hammock of tissue that does far more than stabilize the spine. The pelvic floor is a complex network of muscles, ligaments, and fascia stretching from the pubic bone to the tailbone. It supports the bladder, uterus, and rectum, keeps urine and stool where they belong, and plays a starring role in sexual pleasure.
At The GSM Collective in Chicago, Dr. Sameena Rahman hears a common refrain during new patient visits: “I thought leaking was just part of having kids,” or “My lower belly feels heavy by day’s end, but I figured that is normal aging.” Pelvic floor dysfunction is widespread, but it is not inevitable, and it is treatable once you understand what is happening and who can help.
Pelvic Floor Anatomy in Everyday Language
Imagine a woven trampoline inside your pelvis. Three openings pass through that trampoline: the urethra in front, the vagina in the middle, and the rectum in the back. The muscles must relax to allow emptying or intercourse, then contract to maintain continence and organ support. Hormones, childbirth, heavy lifting, chronic coughing, weight gain, and even high-impact sports can stretch or tighten the tissue unevenly. Over time, this imbalance shows up as leaks, pressure, or pain.
Common Signs Something Is Off
Stress incontinence
Leaking when you laugh, sneeze, jump, or jog occurs when the pelvic floor cannot counter sudden abdominal pressure. Many women notice it first on the trampoline at a child’s birthday party.
Urge incontinence
A bladder spasm creates an overwhelming urge to urinate immediately. It often accompanies frequent nighttime trips to the bathroom.
Pelvic organ prolapse
The bladder, rectum, or uterus drops lower than its normal position, causing a feeling of vaginal heaviness or a visible bulge.
Pelvic pain
Tight muscles can generate sharp or burning vaginal discomfort, painful intercourse, or tailbone aches after sitting. Endometriosis, irritable bowel, and chronic stress often feed the cycle.
Sexual dysfunction
Weakness reduces sensation and orgasm intensity, while hypertonic muscles create painful penetration.
Assessment Tools Beyond a Quick Kegel Check
At The GSM Collective, evaluation starts with a detailed history that covers childbirth, surgeries, exercise habits, and hormone changes. A pelvic exam follows, but not the rushed speculum-only look many women dread. Dr. Rahman assesses muscle tone at rest and during squeeze, checks for trigger points, and screens for prolapse while you bear down.
Additional tools include:
Bladder diaries tracking volume and urgency patterns over 3 days
Validated questionnaires like the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory
In-office ultrasound to visualize bladder emptying or organ descent
Referrals for an MRI for the spine or hip to assess whether or not other areas are impacting the pelvic floor
The goal is to create a precise map of the issue so that treatment targets the cause, not just the symptom.
Treatment Pathways That Work
Lifestyle and Self-Care
Timed voiding to retrain an overactive bladder
Fiber and hydration tweaks to prevent straining
Breathing drills that teach the diaphragm and pelvic floor to move in sync
Low-impact fitness, such as cycling or swimming, while active healing takes place
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Women’s physiotherapy is the frontline solution for most pelvic floor problems. A licensed therapist uses biofeedback, manual release, and tailored exercise to restore balance. You learn to isolate specific muscle layers, not just squeeze everything. In Chicago, Dr. Rahman works directly with an in-house therapist who is an integral part of The GSM Collective, Grace Prete.
Medical or Procedural Options
Topical estrogen thickens vaginal tissue and improves blood flow, boosting pelvic floor responsiveness in perimenopause and beyond
Pessary fitting offers removable support for prolapse without surgery
Urethral bulking injections act as stress incontinence solutions for women not ready for sling procedures. Minimally invasive surgery is reserved for high-grade prolapse or refractory incontinence and coordinated with fellowship-trained pelvic pain doctor partners. If either of these procedures is required, Dr. Rahman will refer patients to another specialist
Why Early Action Matters
Ignoring leaks or pressure can lead to skin irritation, urinary tract infections, decreased activity, and strained intimacy. Muscles remodel over time; the longer dysfunction persists, the more difficult it becomes to reverse. Early intervention often means fewer therapy sessions and avoidance of invasive procedures.
The Concierge Advantage
Because The GSM Collective runs on a membership model, patients do not squeeze pelvic floor concerns into a rushed annual exam. Visits last 30 to 60 minutes, and follow-up questions are welcome via secure messaging. Progress is tracked collaboratively, and treatment plans are adjusted in real-time as your body responds.
Indicators You Should Book a Pelvic Floor Evaluation
Leaking urine more than once a week
A sense of vaginal bulging or needing to splint to have a bowel movement
Pain that makes you avoid intimacy
Postpartum core weakness that is not improving by 12 weeks
Chronic low back or hip pain without a clear orthopedic cause
Own Your Core from the Inside Out
Pelvic floor health is foundational to comfort, confidence, and sexual vitality. By understanding anatomy, recognizing early warning signs, and accessing skilled women’s physiotherapy and medical guidance, you can reclaim control at every life stage. If symptoms are nudging your routine or shrinking your activities, do not chalk them up to age or childbirth.
Schedule a pelvic floor assessment at thegsmcollective.com or call 312-574-3434. Dr. Rahman will craft a step-by-step plan that returns stability and ease to your daily moves and intimate moments alike.
