Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction is the name given to when the pelvic floor muscles are not behaving in the way that they are designed.

The most common reason for this to happen is when the pelvic floor muscles have become too tense, too weak or a combination of the two. This means that one or more of their functions becomes hindered. This can give a wide range of signs and symptoms, these can include any combination of the following: 

This is when you are unable to stop or control urine leaking out. This can happen at different times e.g., when you are training, playing sport, coughing or sneezing (stress urinary incontinence) or when you feel the urge to empty your bladder and are unable to make it to the toilet in time (urge incontinence).

This covers changes to your bladder habits which may include; needing to go more often regardless of how much urine may be in the bladder, urgency (the sudden and urgent need to empty your bladder), overactive bladder and also needing to empty your bladder more in the nighttime  
 

This covers anything abnormal for when you are passing urine, e.g., a slow or intermittent stream, needing to strain, feeling of incomplete emptying, needing to go again straight after having just been, pain.

This is when the optimal position of one or more of the pelvic organs has been altered. This can come or go or feel more constant. Often it is gravity/endurance dependent e.g., feeling worse after a day being upright or after certain exercises or movements, or when tired. The main feature would be feeling as if there is a bulge, presence or pressure in the vagina, or a feeling as if there is dragging or pulling.  

This includes anything related to sexual function, including masturbation. For example, pain on touch or with penetration, loss of or diminished orgasm, pain during arousal or after orgasm, inability to achieve or tolerate penetration. 
 

This can of course include sexual dysfunction, but also includes those that find gynaecological examination or use of some period products e.g., tampon or cup, very uncomfortable or too painful.  

This is when you are unable to stop or prevent faeces or wind from escaping. It may come with or without warning depending on the cause. Like urinary incontinence, it can also happen during certain movements that cause an increase in pressure, e.g., exercise, coughing, sneezing (stress anal incontinence) or when the urge is present to open your bowels or pass wind but you are unable to stop or delay it (urge incontinence). 

This covers anything abnormal for you when it comes to opening your bowels, e.g., urgency (the sudden and urgent need to empty your bowels), constipation, needing to strain to open your bowels, feeling of incomplete emptying, going too often.  

This can include pain of any origin that affects the region of the pelvis and can come from any structure from within the pelvis, e.g., urethra, bladder, vulval, vaginal, perineal, or around the pelvic girdle itself.   
 


References

Bo at el (2016) An international Urogynecological Association (IUGA)/ International Continence Society (ISC) joint report on the terminology for conservative and nonpharmacological management of female pelvic floor dysfunction. Int Urogyncol J. DOI 10.1007/s00192-016-3123-4