Women of all ages should be encouraged to do pelvic floor muscle training to help prevent the symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, according to proposed guidelines published today.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published a draft guideline on the prevention and non-surgical management of pelvic floor dysfunction in women and girls over the age of 12.
The draft guidance also advises a three-month programme of supervised pelvic floor muscle training to help prevent pelvic floor dysfunction for women from week 20 of pregnancy if they have a mother or sister with pelvic floor dysfunction.
NICE says educating women about pelvic floor health and the risk factors associated with pelvic floor dysfunction will encourage more to do the exercises.
Professor Gillian Leng, chief executive of NICE, said: “Pelvic floor dysfunction is a common and often debilitating set of symptoms that can result in many issues for women. This draft guideline aims to raise awareness of non-surgical management options so that women are better informed about effective options to address pelvic floor dysfunction.
“Improving women’s awareness of pelvic floor health and encouraging them to practise pelvic floor muscle exercises throughout their lives is the most effective way to prevent pelvic floor dysfunction.”
Information on pelvic floor dysfunction, including causes, symptoms and management options, should be made available to women across different healthcare settings and tailored to different age groups and characteristics.
Young women, aged between 12 and 17, should be taught about pelvic floor anatomy and pelvic floor muscle exercises as part of school curriculums, potentially as an addition to sex and relationship education classes.
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