An award-winning physician, Dr. Camilla Hersh has owned and practiced at Virginia Women’s Health Associates for two decades. She treats patients for pelvic floor disorder. In women, the pelvic floor plays an important role in supporting organs such as the bladder, uterus, urethra, vagina, and the rectum. Often compared to a hammock in structure, the pelvic floor is comprised of ligaments, muscles, and tissue that can lose strength and stretch under certain conditions. In the following, Dr. Hersh describes these circumstances.

1. DR. CAMILLA HERSH:
WHY DOES PELVIC
FLOOR DISORDER
OCCUR?
By Dr. Camilla Hersh

2. Introduction

An award-winning physician, Dr. Camilla
Hersh has owned and practiced at Virginia
Women’s Health Associates for two decades.
She treats patients for pelvic floor disorder. In
women, the pelvic floor plays an important role
in supporting organs such as the bladder,
uterus, urethra, vagina, and the rectum. Often
compared to a hammock in structure, the
pelvic floor is comprised of ligaments,
muscles, and tissue that can lose strength and
stretch under certain conditions. In the
following, Dr. Hersh describes these
circumstances.

3. Vaginal delivery

Pregnancy and vaginal childbirth can stretch
and weaken supporting ligaments. Delivery is
also thought to cause nerve damage in some
women, which leads to muscle weakness.
Pelvic floor disorders are seen more frequently
in women who have had multiple vaginal
deliveries.

4. Conclusion

Hysterectomy: Surgically removing the uterus
can occasionally leave pelvic organs with less
support.
Family history: The condition tends to run in
families.
Pressure: Anything that puts additional
pressure on the pelvic floor, including chronic
coughing, difficult bowel movements, pelvic
organ tumors, and obesity, can contribute to