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Pelvic Floor Muscle Dysfunction

One of the most common causes of pelvic pain.

Similar to Severe Cramping

High-tone pelvic-floor muscle dysfunction is one of the most common causes of pelvic pain. It is similar to severe cramping you might experience in your leg or other body part.

Sudden and involuntary contractions

A patient with high-tone pelvic-floor muscle dysfunction experiences sudden and involuntary contractions of the levator ani muscles, or pelvic-floor muscles, which hold the bladder, uterus, vagina and rectum in place like a hammock. These spasms also can occur in the obturator internus muscles, which control the rotation of the leg and are closely related to the levator ani muscles.

A pain-causing event

Patients with pelvic-floor muscle dysfunction often experience a pain-causing event, such as surgery, a car accident or traumatic vaginal delivery. They also might be under stress. Patients who have interstitial cystitis, endometriosis, vulvodynia or fibromyalgia also appear more susceptible. It is unclear whether these other conditions trigger the pelvic-floor spasms or vice versa.

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