Why I'm Learning About Pelvic Health

If you had asked me 20 years ago if I thought I would someday be educating people about urinary incontinence and pelvic health, I probably would have said, “Absolutely not!”

And yet…here I am.

I’m currently working toward my Level 1 Pelvic Health Therapist certification, and I’ve decided I want to bring you along with me as I learn.

Not because I know everything.

Actually, quite the opposite.

I want to share what I’m learning because I think pelvic health is one of those areas that SO many people experience, but very few people feel comfortable talking about.

I recently left a nationwide company where pelvic floor concerns were often approached primarily through one intervention: Kegels.

And honestly, I can’t completely fault them for that.

If you Google pelvic floor exercises, urinary leakage, or incontinence, you’ll find Kegels everywhere.

But the more I learn, the more I realize:

The pelvic floor is so much more complicated than “just do your Kegels.”

So let’s start with the basics.

What exactly IS the pelvic floor?

Think of your pelvis like a bony bowl.

The main bony landmarks we’re thinking about are:

🦴 Pubic bone — toward the front🦴 Coccyx (tailbone) — toward the back🦴 Ischial tuberosities (“sit bones”) — on either side

If you imagine looking at the pelvic floor like a clock:

🕛 12:00 = pubic bone🕕 6:00 = tailbone🕒 3:00 and 🕘 9:00 = sit bones

These bones act as anchors for the muscles and connective tissues of the pelvic floor.

And the pelvic floor isn’t simply one muscle.

It is a complex system involving muscles, connective tissue, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels, and other structures that work together to support the pelvis and the organs within it.

What does the pelvic floor actually DO?

There are three big jobs I’m learning about:

1️⃣ Elimination

The pelvic floor helps us control and coordinate urination and bowel movements.

It needs to be able to contract AND relax at the right times.

2️⃣ Intimacy & sexual function

Pelvic floor muscles contribute to sexual function, sensation, arousal, and orgasm.

3️⃣ Organ support & protection

The pelvic floor helps support the bladder, bowel, and reproductive organs while helping manage pressure within the abdomen.

And here’s where it gets really interesting…

There are THREE functional layers of pelvic floor muscles.

🌱 Layer 1 — Superficial layer

These muscles are closely involved with the opening/closing functions of the pelvic outlets and sexual function. They help with control around the urethral and vaginal/anal openings and contribute to sexual function.

🌱 Layer 2 — Middle layer

This layer includes muscles and connective tissue associated with the urogenital region and sphincter control. These structures help with continence and controlling the openings through which urine and other bodily functions occur.

🌱 Layer 3 — Deep layer

This is where we get into the levator ani and deeper pelvic floor muscles.

These muscles are incredibly important for supporting the pelvic organs, maintaining continence, managing pressure, and contributing to stability of the pelvis and trunk.

And here’s one of the biggest things I’m learning:

These muscles don’t just need to be strong.

They need to be able to:

➡️ Contract➡️ Relax➡️ Lengthen➡️ Coordinate with breathing➡️ Respond to changes in pressure➡️ Work together with the rest of the body

Which means pelvic floor rehabilitation isn’t necessarily about doing more Kegels.

Sometimes the problem may actually be too much tension, poor coordination, weakness, decreased awareness, or difficulty relaxing.

And that’s exactly why I’m diving into this area.

There are SO many people—young, older, women AND men—living with pelvic floor symptoms and simply thinking:

“I guess this is just something I have to live with.”

Maybe it isn’t.

I’m just getting started, and I’m going to be learning right alongside you.

So consider this the beginning of my pelvic health learning series.

I’ll be sharing what I’m learning about incontinence, pelvic floor muscles, breathing, pressure management, constipation, prolapse, aging, exercise, and how occupational therapy can play a role in pelvic health.

And if you have questions along the way, ask them.

You might ask something that sends me down a whole new rabbit hole of learning.

Let’s learn together.