This can happen when you sneeze or cough. It is caused by an increase in intra-abdominal pressure, which causes the pelvic floor muscles to contract.

Your pelvic floor muscles are a group of muscles that help support your bladder, uterus and rectum, as well as other organs in the pelvis. The pelvic floor muscles are also known as levator ani.

The pelvic floor muscles act as a sling that supports the organs in your pelvis. They also keep blood from leaking out of your vagina and urethra (the tube through which urine passes).

Pelvic pain is often difficult to diagnose because it can have many different causes and symptoms. In some cases, however, doctors can find what’s causing your pain through a simple test called a digital rectal exam (DRE) or an internal examination of the rectum using an instrument called a proctoscope.

Last modified: October 9, 2022