Research has found a strong correlation between the menstrual cycle and muscle strength in the pelvic floor. Your pelvic floor muscles are at their weakest between day 7-14 of your cycle, and at their strongest around days 21-28.
A quick recap. Your cycle starts on day 1 of your period and typically lasts an average of 28 days (your cycle that is, not your period). Most women ovulate around day 14 of their cycle. Without getting too sciencey your cycle is controlled by your hormones, mainly oestrogen and progesterone.
During your period, days 1-7 of your cycle, the menstrual hormones are at their lowest. This can cause muscle laxity and combined with the swelling and inflammation of your uterus can create a heaviness or dragging feeling in the pelvic floor. Women with pelvic floor dysfunction may find their symptoms are worse during their period because of this. As your hormones rise again and the inflammation settles the muscles return to normal. Around ovulation with the sudden rise in oestrogen you may find a heavier feeling again but this only lasts for a day or 2 and is not compounded by your period.
If you have had a baby, regardless of the type of birth you had, you can develop pelvic dysfunction due to a pelvic floor that is too weak or too strong. Your symptoms may fluctuate with the changes in your hormones throughout the month.
During menopause, as our oestrogen levels drop, the pelvic floor muscles, ligaments and tissues lose their elasticity and strength and they become thinner which means we rapidly lose tone and strength in this area. This is known as the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause. It is a common time for the symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction to present or worsen. Going into menopause with good pelvic health and strength and minimise the severity of these changes as we move through menopause.
This is helpful to know so that when you’re assessing your symptoms you can take into consideration the timing of your cycle and your hormonal stage of life.
