The Hyperlink Between Collagen & Pelvic Flooring Well being, From An Knowledgeable

First, let’s focus on what the pelvic ground does, precisely: “The pelvic ground is made up of muscle groups, pores and skin, and fascia,” explains urogynecologist and pelvic ground skilled Betsy Greenleaf, D.O. “It’s this tissue that’s accountable for conserving all of our organs from dropping out the underside, resembling bowels, bladder, and reproductive organs in girls.” Consider your pelvis like an open bowl constructed out of your hip bones—whereas it creates a sturdy construction, Greenleaf notes, little is holding your organs inside. “It’s a determined combat in opposition to gravity.” That is why it is essential to strengthen these pelvic ground muscle groups so you may higher assist your continence (aka bladder management), intercourse drive, and extra over time.

Now collagen, as chances are you’ll know, helps make up the construction of your pores and skin, bone, fascia (aka connective tissues), and muscle (it is essentially the most considerable protein within the physique, as a matter of reality).* So it seemingly would not come as a shock that collagen performs a key function in pelvic ground well being: “Collagen composes the tissue, resembling fascia and ligaments and provides to the energy in opposition to gravity,”* notes Greenleaf. Particularly, your pelvic tissues include primarily sort I and kind III collagen1.

However, sigh, collagen ranges deplete over time, on account of issues like getting old, smoking, genetics, and a host of different components. Your pelvic ground additionally occurs to weaken over time as you lose muscle mass (plus, gravity afflicts us all sooner or later), and based on Greenleaf, pure collagen decline can pace up that course of. 

“Weakening of the pelvic ground is a mix of thinning of the collagen within the fascia and muscle groups and weakening the muscle fibers,” she says. Basically: “It’s double bother for the pelvic ground with reducing collagen and reducing muscle mass.” Analysis even reveals that collagen content material is decrease in girls who must strengthen their pelvic ground2; an elevated breakdown of collagen can be tied to emphasize urination in girls3 (aka, each time a bodily exercise—laughing, sneezing, coughing, and so on.—places stress on the bladder and causes it to leak).