Nobody warns you that the pelvic floor can quietly stop working the way it used to. You notice it when you sneeze. Or laugh too hard. Or push yourself through a run and realise something feels off. It’s easy to write off as getting older, or something that happens after having a baby, or something you were told to expect after prostate treatment. What’s harder to find is a clear explanation of what’s actually happening, why it affects people of all ages and all genders, and what’s genuinely worth doing about it.
This post is that explanation. No embarrassment, no assumptions about who you are. Pelvic floor weakness is common, it’s undertalked, and it affects far more people than the narrow conversation around it suggests.
What the pelvic floor actually is
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and connective tissue that sits at the base of the pelvis, spanning from the pubic bone at the front to the tailbone at the back. Think of it as a hammock of muscle that supports the bladder, bowel, and (in people with a uterus) the uterus itself. It controls the sphincters that open and close when you go to the toilet. It plays a role in sexual function. It works constantly in the background, absorbing pressure every time you cough, lift, or move.
Because it’s internal and invisible, most people only notice it when it stops working well. And by that point, the weakness has usually been building for a while.
Signs your pelvic floor may be weakening
Pelvic floor weakness can present differently depending on the person. Some of the most commonly reported signs include:
- Leaking urine when you sneeze, cough, laugh, or exercise. Sometimes called stress incontinence. This happens when the pelvic floor can’t generate enough pressure to hold things closed during a sudden physical demand.
- A strong, sudden urge to urinate that’s difficult to defer. Often called urgency incontinence. The signal comes before the bladder is actually full.
- Needing to get to the bathroom frequently, especially at night.
- A sensation of heaviness or dragging in the pelvic area, particularly after standing for long periods. This may be associated with pelvic organ prolapse, a separate but related issue worth discussing with your GP.
- Reduced sensation or changes in sexual function that feel connected to muscle tone rather than libido.
- Difficulty fully emptying the bladder or bowel.
These signs sit on a spectrum. Noticing one of them occasionally is different from noticing several of them consistently. If anything above sounds familiar and is affecting your day-to-day life, it’s worth speaking with a GP or pelvic health physiotherapist. They can assess what’s happening and help you understand the cause. The information in this post is educational, not a substitute for that conversation.
Why pelvic floor weakness happens, and who it affects
Pelvic floor weakness is not a women’s issue. It’s a human issue. The causes are wide-ranging and affect people across all genders.
Pregnancy and childbirth
Carrying a baby places sustained load on the pelvic floor across nine months. Vaginal birth in particular can stretch and strain the muscles significantly. Many people experience some degree of pelvic floor weakness in the months after giving birth, sometimes resolving on its own, sometimes persisting or worsening without targeted support.
Menopause
The drop in oestrogen during perimenopause and menopause affects connective tissue throughout the body, including in the pelvic floor. Muscles can lose tone and the tissue supporting pelvic organs can become less robust. This is one reason incontinence often increases in midlife for people with a uterus.
Ageing
Muscle mass naturally declines with age, a process called sarcopenia, and the pelvic floor is no exception. Without active, consistent strengthening, pelvic floor muscles tend to weaken across decades. This affects men and women alike.
Prostate treatment
Prostate surgery and radiation treatment can affect the muscles and nerves surrounding the bladder and pelvic floor. Incontinence and reduced pelvic floor control are among the most commonly reported side effects for men after prostate cancer treatment. It’s a significant issue that often goes underdiscussed.
Inactivity and prolonged sitting
The pelvic floor needs use to stay strong, like any other muscle group. Long periods of sitting at a desk, in a car, behind a screen, mean the pelvic floor is neither contracting nor being challenged. Over time, sedentary patterns contribute to deconditioning.
High-impact sport and heavy lifting
Repetitive high-impact activity, running, jumping, heavy weightlifting, places repeated downward pressure on the pelvic floor. Without adequate strength and coordination, that sustained load can cause or worsen weakness over time. Elite athletes are not immune to this.
Chronic straining
Constipation that leads to regular straining puts pressure on pelvic floor structures from above. Over years, this can contribute to dysfunction.
Why Kegels alone often aren’t enough
Kegel exercises, contracting and releasing the pelvic floor, are the standard first recommendation, and for good reason. Done correctly and consistently, they can help. The problem is that most people don’t do them correctly, and almost no one does them consistently enough to build meaningful strength.
The pelvic floor is an internal muscle group. You can’t see it working. You can’t feel it the way you feel your bicep contracting. There’s no immediate feedback telling you whether you’ve engaged the right muscles or compensated with your glutes or abdomen instead. Adherence is a known problem, and most people who are instructed to do Kegel exercises have largely stopped within a few months.
There’s also a ceiling to what voluntary contraction can achieve. Surface-level engagement, the kind most people manage with Kegels, doesn’t necessarily reach the deeper layers of the pelvic floor, particularly when those deeper muscles have lost tone significantly. It’s similar to trying to rehabilitate a weakened core using only gentle mat work when what the muscle actually needs is progressive load.
None of this is a criticism of pelvic health physiotherapy. A good pelvic physio is an excellent starting point. They can assess whether you’re contracting correctly, identify which muscle groups are weak, and build a plan around your situation. The point is that for many people, Kegels alone are not producing the results they need, and there are now other options worth knowing about.
What TESLAChair does differently
The TESLAChair at Bayside Endermologie uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy to stimulate pelvic floor muscle contractions that go significantly deeper and faster than anything voluntary exercise can produce. During a single 30-minute session, the chair generates a very high volume of contractions, engaging the full depth of the pelvic floor including the layers that are difficult or impossible to target through conscious effort alone.
You sit fully clothed in the chair. There’s no internal examination, no undressing, nothing uncomfortable. The sensation is unusual, a deep pulsing and contracting that many clients describe as strange but not painful. Most people read their phone or sit quietly while it works.
Sessions are available in 30, 45, or 60-minute formats, and a course of sessions is typically recommended to see meaningful results. As with any treatment, individual results vary. The TESLAChair is designed to support pelvic floor strength, not to diagnose or treat medical conditions. Clients who have ongoing concerns about incontinence, prolapse, or post-surgical recovery are encouraged to continue working with their GP or pelvic health physiotherapist alongside any sessions at the clinic.
Many clients at Bayside Endermologie come to TESLAChair after years of inconsistent Kegels, wanting something that works more systematically. Others come after postpartum recovery, or after prostate treatment, or simply because they noticed things had quietly changed and wanted to do something about it. There’s no standard profile for who this is for. There’s no standard here.
If you’d like to understand whether TESLAChair might be right for your situation, the best first step is a conversation. Kristina offers a free 15-minute consultation where she can answer your questions, explain what to expect, and give you an honest read on whether it’s a good fit.
A note on when to see a doctor first
If you’re experiencing significant incontinence, pelvic pain, symptoms that have come on suddenly, or anything that feels like it might be related to prolapse, please speak with your GP before starting any pelvic floor program, whether that’s exercises, physiotherapy, or a treatment like TESLAChair. Pelvic floor dysfunction can have underlying causes that need medical assessment, and no wellness treatment is a substitute for that.
Bayside Endermologie is a wellness clinic. We work best alongside your existing healthcare team, not instead of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have pelvic floor weakness?
Common signs include leaking urine when sneezing, coughing, laughing, or exercising; a frequent or urgent need to urinate; reduced sensation or awareness in the pelvic area; and a sense of heaviness or pressure in the pelvis. Pelvic floor weakness isn’t always obvious — it can be subtle, particularly in the early stages. If you recognise any of these signs, it’s worth having a proper conversation.
Is TESLAChair treatment suitable for men?
Yes. Pelvic floor weakness affects people of all genders, and TESLAChair is used by men — particularly those managing urinary issues following prostate treatment, or dealing with general pelvic floor deconditioning. Bayside Endermologie is open to everyone.
How many TESLAChair sessions do I need?
A typical initial course is 6–10 sessions, with sessions available in 30-minute, 45-minute, and 1-hour formats depending on your goals. Most clients notice meaningful improvement within the first few sessions. Kristina will design a programme based on your specific history and what you’re trying to achieve.
Can TESLAChair help with pelvic floor prolapse?
TESLAChair is not a treatment for prolapse and is not a substitute for medical assessment or intervention if prolapse is present. If you have a diagnosed prolapse, please consult your GP or physiotherapist before booking. TESLAChair may be appropriate as complementary support, but this needs to be assessed individually.
Ready to have the conversation?
Pelvic floor weakness is common. It responds to the right kind of support. And it’s not something you have to live with quietly. Whether you’re looking for more information or ready to book a session, the first step is simple.
Book your free 15-minute consultation with Kristina — no pressure, no obligation. Just an honest conversation about what’s possible.
Or call us on 0448 892 914 if you’d prefer to speak directly.
About the author: Kristina Tourok is the founder of Bayside Endermologie in Beaumaris, Melbourne — a non-invasive body and skin clinic she has operated since 2017. She works with clients across LPG Endermologie, TESLAFormer, TESLAChair, Ultraformer MPT, Cold Plasma, Fibroblast Plasma, Enzyme Peels, Skin Needling, and Infra-Red Sauna.
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