The cause of pelvic floor dysfunction is unknown but is likely a combination of events. A wise colleague of mine once described it as a glass being filled with water that eventually overflows. There are numerous traumatic events that contribute to the filling of water in the glass. The event that causes the water to overflow can be as simple as a cough or a urinary tract infection. This overflow is recognized as the breaking point in the system that leads to the development of pain or dysfunction. Events that have been correlated with the development of pelvic floor dysfunction include:

• direct physical trauma; surgical procedures, sports injuries, fractures, sudden severe muscle strain, car accident, pregnancy or complicated delivery
• repetitive minor trauma, chronic cough, constipation, straining to void
• chronic tense holding patterns that develop in childhood as a result of sexual abuse, traumatic toilet training, abnormal bowel patterns, stress or sports training.
• chronic hip and back pain and causing compensation patterns of the pelvic floor
• inflammation of the pelvic organs such as urethritis, cystitis, vaginitis, prostatitis and endometriosis.
• Chronic faulty posture and weak core musculature