Trastornos de la contracción de los músculos del piso pélvico femenino

Disorders of pelvic floor contraction are divided into active and passive, based on the underlying mechanism. Passive or pelvic floor muscle relaxation disorders include pelvic organ prolapse, and fecal and urinary incontinence. Active disorders are attributed to lack of relaxation or contraction dyssynergia of pelvic floor muscles, and are becoming an important and barely known cause of chronic pelvic and perineal pain, and impairment of micturition, defecation and sexual function. The latter disorders represent a diagnostic challenge for the physician, as it is a group of overlapping functional entities that share pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical presentation. This article aims to review the pathophysiology, diagnostic approaches, and treatment of these disorders in the light of current evidence.