Lifestyle habits significantly affect pelvic floor health

Among women, pelvic floor disorders include common symptoms, such as urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, constipation and defecation difficulties, and pelvic organ prolapse. The prevalence of pelvic floor disorders increases as women approach their menopausal years. Estrogen deprivation, aging, an individual’s reproductive history, and factors increasing intra-abdominal pressure may lead to structural and functional failure in the pelvic floor.   

Lifestyle choices regarding physical activity and eating behavior, as well as body composition, may have significant effects on the mechanisms of pelvic floor disorders.  

“It is important to increase knowledge about the association of lifestyle habits with the functional capacity of the pelvic floor. This could decrease the economic and human burden, and increase the overall health of middle-aged women”, says doctoral researcher Mari Kuutti from the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences. 

Physical activity may increase the symptoms of pelvic floor disorders 

The results of Kuutti’s thesis showed that middle-aged women with early adulthood histories of competitive sports were more likely to experience the symptoms of urgency urinary incontinence. Similarly, women with histories of regular physical activity were more likely to experience the symptoms of fecal incontinence in midlife. 

Eating behavior and certain food items may worsen the symptoms of pelvic floor disorders  

Disordered eating, such as overeating and restrictive eating, were associated with the increased risk of the symptoms of pelvic floor disorders. In addition, several food items are potentially protective or predisposing in terms of pelvic floor symptoms.  

“For example, a higher consumption frequency of ready-made and fast foods increased the risk for the symptoms of urgency urinary and stress urinary incontinence. Overall higher quality diet and consuming fruits more often were associated with lower risk of stress urinary incontinence symptoms”, Kuutti says.  

Central adiposity increases the risk for stress urinary incontinence symptoms 

Additionally, several fat mass variables as well as body mass index and waist circumference were associated with the symptoms of stress urinary incontinence. 

“The research showed that larger fat mass of the body increases the risk for the symptoms of stress urinary incontinence.  Risk factors are especially larger abdominal fat mass and visceral fat area as well as larger waist circumference and body mass index, “ says Kuutti. 

Mari Kuutti will defend her doctoral dissertation "Modifiable life habits as potential risk factors for pelvic floor disorders in middle-aged women”, on Friday, October 17, 2025, at 12:00, in the Seminarium assembly hall (S212), Seminarium building, University of Jyväskylä. The opponent will be Head Physician, docent Maarit Mentula (Division of Gynecological Outpatient Clinic activities, HUS), and the Custos will be Associate Professor Eija Laakkonen (University of Jyväskylä).  

The event is held in Finnish

The doctoral dissertation is available at this link.

Additional information:  

Mari Kuutti 
+358 44 9724473 
mari.a.kuutti@jyu.fi