Prolapse, colorectal dysfunction, stress incontinence, obstructive defacation - all issues related to our pelvic floor.

On NZ Herald’s new weekly podcast The Little Things, journalist Francesca Rudkin and her long-time friend and health researcher, Louise Ayrey speak to an expert to tackle the little things that affect women, discussing relationships, parenting, health and diet, and more.

Described as a science-based approach to wellbeing, the podcast shares practical and accessible advice.

Women’s bodies experience a lot of changes, including through childbirth.

Physiotherapist, Caitlin Day is a specialist in pelvic floor dysfunction and says 50 percent of women - one in three women - who have been pregnant will experience a prolapse.

“Prolapse and stress incontinence are really really common,” she says on the podcast.

The symptoms, according to Day, will feel like there is something sitting in the vagina. This can cause pain during periods and intercourse. She advises those with symptoms to seek medical advice sooner because even if symptoms heal, they may re-emerge later in life.

The physiotherapist, also known as the vagina whisperer, says pelvic dysfunction can happen to women of all ages and stages, and can affect bladder and bowel control. It can also be the cause of lower back pain.

Day describes the pelvic floor as a sling of tissues that go from the pubic bone to the tail bone, “it makes a diamond shape of tissues”.

She says ‘Hyper tonic pelvic floor ‘ - a shortened or overactive weak pelvic floor at its extreme can cause an inability to completely empty the bowels, constipation, and vaginal pain when using tampons.

She says the above can be a result of trauma where the pelvic area will become painful and reacts in the same way to stress as other parts of the body, because signals are being sent through the nervous system to the pelvic area.

Recent studies suggest there needs to be more education and awareness on the issue, and Day agrees.

“It’ll be really good for women and girls at school to have an awareness of what it might look like when things go wrong and therefore see someone to go and help with that,” says Day.

A woman’s pelvic floor changes over time, and gravity is responsible.

“Weight pushes down on that area from time and age. During menopause, estrogen levels decrease over time and the tissues get weak and frail,” says Day who recommends women seek guidance if they want to strengthen their pelvic floor. “Thirty percent of women think they’re squeezing their pelvic floor, but they’re doing something different,” she says.  

Listen to The Little Things podcast episode ‘Exploring the Mysteries of your Pelvic Floor’ above to find out more.