El Paso provider raises awareness for pelvic floor health, urges patients to talk

EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — An El Paso health care leader is urging people to talk with their doctors about pelvic floor dysfunction this month, saying many patients live with symptoms for years without realizing the condition is treatable.

August is Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Awareness Month, a time providers hope will prompt more open conversations about a disorder that affects millions of people but is often overlooked and undertreated.

Pelvic floor dysfunction can involve a range of symptoms and occurs when muscles or tissues in the pelvic area become weakened, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Speaking to KFOX14/CBS4 on Monday, Valeria Hanna, MSHA, RN, vice president of operations for Las Palmas Medical Center, said, “Pelvic floor dysfunction is when the muscles, the connective tissue in the ligaments of your pelvic floor stop working the way they’re supposed to. It is very common in females, but it’s also very common in males.”

Hanna said symptoms can include lower back pain, increased frequency in urination, leakage, or a feeling of pressure or heaviness in the pelvic area. Because those symptoms can be uncomfortable to discuss, she said some people may avoid seeking help or may not realize treatment options exist.

Citing a recent study published in Nature, Hanna said 32% of women will experience pelvic floor dysfunction at some point in their lives.

” I think the most common pelvic dysfunction that we see is after childbirth, but it’s not only for childbirth. After childbirth, it’s even when you’re pregnant, or when you’re older.” Hanna said.

Citing another study published in APTA Pelvic Health, Hanna said around 15% of men will also experience pelvic floor dysfunction, stating the disorder does not discriminate.

“Pelvic floor dysfunction is that it doesn’t discriminate. It’s females, males of any age, gender. Knowing the symptoms and not being embarrassed to share your symptoms with your primary care provider, especially if it includes bladder or bowel symptoms, letting them know that you have those symptoms so they can refer you to an outpatient area where we take care of pelvic floor therapy,” Hanna said.

Hanna said pelvic floor therapy can address common symptoms and help correct misconceptions about what treatment involves, particularly for people who assume symptoms are simply something they have to live with.

“People delay treatment because they think it’s probably part of the aging process, especially females when they have urinary leakage, but it is not part of the aging process. It is pelvic dysfunction, so seeking treatment and asking your primary care provider for pelvic therapy is the way to go,” Hanna said.

Hanna also warned that delaying care can lead to more serious complications that may require surgery. “If you don’t treat pelvic issues, it might lead to a bulging of intestines. It does get that far with women, especially, the prolapse or bulging and a lot of pelvic pressure, and that can lead to a surgical procedure. So you want to look into therapy before any invasive procedure,” Hanna said.

She said Las Palmas Medical Center offers outpatient therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction. “So if you experience any symptoms of pelvic dysfunction, we do have outpatient therapy at Las Palmas Medical Center where we do treat pelvic floor dysfunction. We do have several therapists that are experts in this area. So don’t be embarrassed if you have the symptoms or if you have any questions, just make sure that you see your primary care provider so they can refer you to our clinic,” Hanna said.

Hanna said the hospital created a dedicated space to help patients feel more comfortable seeking care. “We decided to do a dedicated room for pelvic dysfunction at our outpatient therapy because a lot of El Pasoans go untreated because they’re embarrassed or they don’t want to talk about it. So we created this because, you know, it is very beneficial,” Hanna said.

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