Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics of North America
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Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am · Aug 2007
ReviewRecognizing and treating pelvic pain and pelvic floor dysfunction.
The reported prevalence rates of pain within the pelvis range from 3.8% to 24% in women aged 15 to 73 years. Despite the significant number of women affected, pelvic floor pain and dysfunction are commonly overlooked in women seeking medical care. ⋯ If left unidentified, pelvic floor dysfunction can deter individuals from normal bowel and bladder function, intimacy, and even engagement in work and social functions. This article introduces pelvic floor anatomy, neurophysiology, and function and provides an overview of pelvic pain and pelvic floor dysfunctions and their recognition and treatment.