Going to the bathroom shouldn’t regularly hurt. If you experience sharp pain, pressure, burning, cramping, or discomfort when having a bowel movement, it can be easy to assume constipation is the only possible explanation. But painful bowel movements can happen for several reasons—including problems with how your pelvic floor muscles are working. Your pelvic floor plays an important role in bowel movements. These muscles need to coordinate with your abdominal muscles and actu

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most common men's health concerns, yet many men feel uncomfortable talking about it. If you've noticed difficulty getting or maintaining an erection, you're not alone. Millions of men experience erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives, and while it can be frustrating and concerning, effective treatment options are available. What many people don't realize is that erectile dysfunction is often a symptom of an underlying issue r

Endometriosis is a complex condition that affects much more than the reproductive organs. While it's often thought of as a gynecologic condition, endometriosis can influence the muscles, nerves, connective tissue, bladder, bowel, hips, low back, and even the way the nervous system processes pain. At Bonneville Pelvic Health, we work with many individuals living with endometriosis. Although pelvic floor physical therapy doesn't remove endometriosis lesions, it can play an impo

If you've been experiencing pain that starts in your low back or buttocks and travels down your leg, you may have been told it's sciatica. But what if your imaging looks normal, traditional treatments haven't helped, or you're also dealing with pelvic pain, bladder issues, or discomfort with sitting? The answer may surprise you: pelvic floor dysfunction can sometimes contribute to symptoms that closely resemble sciatica. At Bonneville Pelvic Health, we often see patients who

What is the pelvic floor? The pelvic floor is a bowl of muscles at the bottom of the pelvis that helps to control bowel, bladder, and sexual function. It consists of three layers from superficial to deep that have differing functions. The first and second layers (meaning the more superficial) are smaller muscles that all come together to create the openings that allow for essential bodily functions. The openings are the urethra, vagina (females), and anus. The functions (yo