• DHC Facebook page
  • DHC on Twitter
  • DHC on Pinterest
  • DHC YouTube Channel
  • Digestive HealthCare Center, Gastroenterologists in Hillsborough, Somerville, and Warren, NJ Blog
908-218-9222

  • Request an Appointment
  • Access Patient Portal
  • Pay Your Bill Online
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Physicians
    • Charles A. Accurso, MD, FACG
    • Gary F. Ciambotti, MD
    • Cory Vergilio, MD
    • Alan R. Gingold, DO
    • Claudia Barghash, MD
    • Mark Greaves, MD
    • Nader N. Youssef, MD, FAAP, FACG
    • Kristen Lee, MD
  • Conditions
    • Abdominal Bloating
    • Anorectal and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
    • Celiac Disease & Gluten Sensitivity
    • Colorectal Cancers
    • Constipation, Diarrhea and Bloody Stool
    • Crohn’s Disease
    • Diverticulitis
    • Esophageal Cancer
    • Fatty Liver Disease
    • Fecal Incontinence
    • Gallstones
    • GERD/Acid Reflux
    • Hemorrhoids
    • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Malabsorption
    • Polyps
    • Rectal Bleeding
    • Ulcerative Colitis
    • Ulcers
  • Procedures
    • Anal Manometry
    • Bravo pH Monitor
    • Breath Tests
    • Capsule Endoscopy
    • Colonoscopy
    • Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)
    • Esophageal Manometry
    • Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
    • Hemorrhoidal Banding
    • Infusion Therapy
    • Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG)
    • Therapeutic ERCP
    • Upper Endoscopy (EGD)
    • Virtual Colonoscopy
  • Procedure Prep
    • DHC Colonoscopy Preparation
    • Upper Endoscopy (EGD) Procedure Preparation
    • Alternative Colonoscopy Preparation
    • Anal Manometry Preparation
    • Breath Test Preparation
    • Capsule Endoscopy Preparation
    • Endoscopic Ultrasound Preparation
    • Esophageal Manometry Preparation
    • Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Preparation
    • H. pylori  Breath Test Preparation
    • Therapeutic ERCP Preparation
    • Instrucciones en Español
  • Patient Forms
  • Patient Center
    • Patient Education
    • Patient Portal
    • Patient Satisfaction
    • Price Quote for Procedures
    • Recipes
    • Insurance and Billing
    • Testimonials
    • Women’s Wellness
  • ReShape®
  • SonarMD™

Anorectal and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Text Size: A A A
Home >> Conditions >> Anorectal and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

What Are Anorectal and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?

Anorectal dysfunction is a term used to describe a set of disorders that result from pelvic floor dysfunction. Pelvic floor dysfunction arises when the muscles that support and control the bladder and bowel (as well as the uterus in women) become weakened. As a result, anorectal conditions such as fecal incontinence and constipation occur.

Urinary and gynecological disorders can also appear, and may be treated by a urologist or a gynecologist, respectively.

What Causes Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?

Common causes of pelvic floor dysfunction include:

  • Chronic coughing
  • Deterioration of muscle strength due to aging
  • Excessive straining due to chronic constipation
  • Heavy lifting
  • Obesity
  • Pelvic surgery or radiation treatments
  • Pregnancy and childbirth
  • Trauma to the pelvic region

What Are the Symptoms?

Symptoms may include:

  • A bulge or heavy sensation in the rectum or vagina
  • Constipation, pain or a need to strain during bowel movements
  • Muscle spasms in the pelvis
  • Pain or pressure in the rectum or vagina
  • Urinary or fecal incontinence (loss of bladder or bowel control)

How Are Anorectal and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Treated?

In the majority of cases, anorectal dysfunction—as well as overall pelvic floor dysfunction—can be successfully treated without surgical intervention.

Treatments may include:

  • Behavioral changes: Avoid pushing or straining when having a bowel movement. Learn how to relax and control the muscles through exercises. These are behavioral changes a physician might recommend
  • Medication: A low dose muscle relaxant may be prescribed to help relieve conditions, such as constipation
  • Surgery: Surgery may be considered if the rectum prolapses. A rectal prolapse occurs when the tissues which line the rectum fall into the anal opening. Rectal prolapse is typically the result of excessive straining over time to pass stool
Contact Us


Latest News

Choosing the Right Gastroenterologist Near Me
\r\n\r\nThe human body is an intricate system with a c...
read more
8 Everyday Myths about IBD, Debunked
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term used to...
read more
Dr. Gingold Featured in Pain-Free Living Magazine
\r\n\r\nOur very own Dr. Alan R. Gingold was recently ...
read more
Get the 411 on Infusion Therapy
Infusion therapy is the administration of medicati...
read more
An In-Depth Look Into Infusion Therapy
Infusion therapy is an exciting new branch of medi...
read more
September is National Food Safety Awareness Month
It seems universal. On a regular basis, we hear ab...
read more
DHC Physician Implores Men to Invest in Their Health:
An Important Q&A for National Men’s Health M...
read more
Get Your Grill On!
No matter what tummy trouble you may be experienci...
read more
Empowering Women to Take Charge of Their Health
An Interview With the Leaders of DHC’s Women’s...
read more
5 Myths About Colon Cancer, Debunked
Colon cancer—also known as colorectal cancer—i...
read more

Our Physicians

  • Charles A. Accurso, MD, FACG
  • Gary F. Ciambotti, MD
  • Cory Vergilio, MD
  • Alan R. Gingold, DO
  • Claudia Barghash, MD
  • Mark Greaves, MD
  • Nader N. Youssef, MD, FAAP, FACG
  • Kristen Lee, MD

Office Locations

  • 511 Courtyard Drive Bldg. 500,
    Hillsborough, NJ 08844


    Leave a Review
  • 319 East Main Street,
    Somerville, NJ 08876

    Leave a Review
  • 31 Mountain Boulevard, Suite H,
    Warren, NJ 07059

    Leave a Review

Service Areas

Bernardsville, Bridgewater, Franklin,
Lebanon, Piscataway

© 2017, Digestive Healthcare Center.
Powered by Points Group.

 

MENU
  • Home
  • Physicians
    • Charles A. Accurso, MD, FACG
    • Gary F. Ciambotti, MD
    • Cory Vergilio, MD
    • Alan R. Gingold, DO
    • Claudia Barghash, MD
    • Mark Greaves, MD
    • Nader N. Youssef, MD, FAAP, FACG
    • Kristen Lee, MD
  • Conditions
    • Abdominal Bloating
    • Anorectal and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
    • Celiac Disease & Gluten Sensitivity
    • Colorectal Cancers
    • Constipation, Diarrhea and Bloody Stool
    • Crohn’s Disease
    • Diverticulitis
    • Esophageal Cancer
    • Fatty Liver Disease
    • Fecal Incontinence
    • Gallstones
    • GERD/Acid Reflux
    • Hemorrhoids
    • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Malabsorption
    • Polyps
    • Rectal Bleeding
    • Ulcerative Colitis
    • Ulcers
  • Procedures
    • Anal Manometry
    • Bravo pH Monitor
    • Breath Tests
    • Capsule Endoscopy
    • Colonoscopy
    • Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)
    • Esophageal Manometry
    • Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
    • Hemorrhoidal Banding
    • Infusion Therapy
    • Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG)
    • Therapeutic ERCP
    • Upper Endoscopy (EGD)
    • Virtual Colonoscopy
  • Procedure Prep
    • DHC Colonoscopy Preparation
    • Upper Endoscopy (EGD) Procedure Preparation
    • Alternative Colonoscopy Preparation
    • Anal Manometry Preparation
    • Breath Test Preparation
    • Capsule Endoscopy Preparation
    • Endoscopic Ultrasound Preparation
    • Esophageal Manometry Preparation
    • Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Preparation
    • H. pylori  Breath Test Preparation
    • Therapeutic ERCP Preparation
    • Instrucciones en Español
  • Patient Forms
  • Patient Center
    • Patient Education
    • Patient Portal
    • Patient Satisfaction
    • Price Quote for Procedures
    • Recipes
    • Insurance and Billing
    • Testimonials
    • Women’s Wellness
  • ReShape®
  • SonarMD™