The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments, and tissues that are located at the bottom of the pelvis and form the shape of a hammock. These muscles serve as a foundation of support to the bladder, bowel, and reproductive organs. A pelvic floor wraps the innermost layers of the pelvis, consisting of the muscles, connective tissues, and nerves that enable normal function of various organs. The pelvic floor being the structural base of the organs is directly related to the functionality of the organ systems. What’s important, these differences can give you a better idea of how to look after your pelvic and also clarify for you why the pelvic floor physiotherapy in Surrey is not the same for men and women."

We are going to share with you the male and female pelvic floor difference in simple words and the reason behind being aware of these differences for your health.

Basic Anatomy: Similarities

First of all, let's name the things that are similar in both:

• Muscle Groups: Both male and female pelvic floors have the same major muscle groups, such as the levator ani and coccygeus muscles.
• Openings: There are openings for the urethra (for urine) and the anus (for stool) that both pass through the pelvic floor.
• Function: Both help in bladder and bowel control, core stability, and sexual health.

Their common characteristics are limited to three matters only. On the contrary, some of their features are not the same at all. Therefore, we will just go to the differences straight away.

What Is the Pelvic Floor?

The pelvic floor is composed of muscles, fascia (connective tissue), and nerves. These muscles are situated from the front (pubic bone) to the back (tailbone) and are the ones that create the expansion and spontaneity of the vagina in women. They lie parallel and extend from the middle of one’s pelvis to one’s perianus, linking the anterior part with the posterior skin. In fact, support, positive displacement, and even containment or circulation of the organ system are their basic..."

The pelvic floor in males and females does not differ significantly in terms of the three basic functions:

• Support: Carries organs such as the bladder, bowels, and uterus (in women).
• Control: Enables you to decide when to urinate or defecate.
• Sexual Function: Influences sexual feeling and capacity.

Differences Between the Male and Female Pelvic Floors

1. Differences In Anatomy

Women:

• Women have three openings in the pelvic floor: the urethra (for urine), the vagina, and the anus.
• The pelvic floor needs to be flexible and strong to pass through the birth canal, which means it must also give birth as well.
• In general, the female pelvis is wider and more spacious, as the narrowest part of that in men, the lower part of the pelvis, has to admit the child during labor and delivery.

Men:

• Man has two openings: the urethra and the anus.
• The pelvis is long and slim in men, which makes it more attic and feculent.
• It also does not have as many organs as the female's to be supported by the pelvis.

2. Sexual And Reproductive Organs

The female pelvic floor is tasked to maintain the proper position of three vital organs such as the uterus, vagina, and ovaries, while the male pelvic floor does the function of upholding two special organs, namely the prostate gland and seminal vesicles.

For instance, the uterus together with the vagina and the ovaries are all located on top of the pelvic floor in most women. Whereas in men, the pelvic floor can be affected if the prostate gland becomes a problem.

3. Hormonal Impact

Women:

• Estrogen, the female sex hormone, is responsible for making the pelvic muscles strong and flexible.
• The drop of estrogen during menopause can fail the pelvic floor, reducing its system and weakening its performance.
• One example is that the change in female hormones during pregnancy is influential in muscle tone.

Men:

• Testosterone in men is less engaging in influencing the pelvic floor.
• There are no abrupt changes in men's hormones, as they are not as pronounced as in women, so the probability of experiencing hormonal weakening of the pelvic floor is minim.

4. Common Pelvic Floor Disorders

Women suffer from the following issues more than men:

• Pelvic organ prolapse (when organs drop due to weak pelvic muscles)
• Urinary incontinence (leaking urine)
• Postpartum pelvic pain
• Pain during sex

Men are at a higher chance to suffer from the following conditions:

• Prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate)
• Post-prostate surgery complications
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Erectile dysfunction

That's why for pelvic floor physiotherapy, gender is

When Should You See a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist?

Pelvic floor physiotherapy is recommended if you have any of the following conditions:

• urinary or fecal incontinence
• the sensation of pressure in the pelvic area
• Pelvic pain or discomfort
• pain during sexual intercourse
• urethral and fecal retention challenges
• The pain which arises after childbirth or prostate surgery.

At our clinic in Surrey, you will meet the best pelvic floor physiotherapists prepared to treat both genders to recover and be healthy.

Final Thoughts

The structure and function of the pelvic floor are different in men and women but the similarity is that both sexes have the organ. Females have openings in the pelvis that number to three as well as they accommodate reproductive organs such as the uterus. They experience pelvic issues after being pregnant, delivering a baby, and because of hormonal changes. As for males, who have a smaller pelvic floor and prostate matters, unlike females.

In this way, these dissimilarities in the anatomy are significant in the context of treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention. Even this fact explains why it is significantly necessary to go to a clinic where physiotherapists are knowledgeable in both male and female pelvic health.

If you have symptoms or would like to take the precautionary approach, our clinic provides the service of pelvic floor physiotherapy in Surrey with the care and commitment of professionals and a personalized method of treatment.