Motherhood is more than caring for a child. It is about passing empowering knowledge to the next generation. However, one important aspect of women’s health was rarely discussed between mothers and daughters: pelvic floor health.
A recent survey* by intimate health brand Intimina highlights how much pelvic floor dysfunction affects women’s lives. Almost half (48.82%) said they limit their ability to engage in physical activities such as exercise, lifting and running. One in four (29.5%) reported sleep disorders at least once a week, while over a third (46%) avoided social events due to discomfort or incontinence, while 39% avoided travel for the same reasons.
Dr. Susanna Unsworth, Intimina’s medical expert and gynecologist, commented on these findings: “It is very sad to read the statistics seen in this recent study: women’s bed symptoms suffer from a considerable number of symptoms, which have a major negative impact on quality of life, as well as social impact, but also effects sleep.
Despite the effects, awareness remains low. Overwhelming 75% of women believe there should be more public education on pelvic floor dysfunction and its long-term impact.
Breaks out the cycle of silence
Pelvic floor dysfunction can affect every stage of a woman’s life, from menstruation to pregnancy, postpartum recovery and menopause. However, because previous generations lacked education on the topic, many women did not even learn how to care for these essential muscles or even recognize symptoms of dysfunction.
“Too many women struggle with pelvic floor problems just because they’ve never been taught how to care for these important muscles,” says Dunja Kokotovic, global brand manager at Interina. “We need to ensure that women have access to the right information so that they don’t suffer silence when solutions are present. Teaching young women early can help prevent problems and provide confident control of their health.”
Dr. Unsworth strengthens the importance of early education. “We believe that women should teach pelvic floor health from a young age. We generally instill the importance of young people exercise in schools and properly exercise your pelvic floor is, in my opinion, part of the school curriculum.
The good news is that pelvic floor problems are preventable and treatable. Educating young women early on can help mothers develop healthy habits that support their daughters’ lives to support pelvic health, confidence and happiness.
How mothers can help daughters build perceptions of the pelvic floor
- Normalize the conversation – Pelvic floor health should be a normal part of health education, as well as discussions about menstruation, gender, and birth control. Openly speaking about issues like incontinence, painful periods, and postpartum recovery will remove the stigma.
- Please tell me about good habits from a young age – Prevention begins early. Teaching your daughter about proper posture, avoiding excessive tension during bowel movements and maintaining a good bladder habit can help prevent future dysfunction.
- Encourage movement and strengthening – Like other muscle groups, pelvic floor muscles benefit from exercise. Strengthening and relaxing these muscles through activities such as yoga, Pilates, or learning how to do kegel correctly is key to long-term health.
- Make sleep a priority – Many women with pelvic floor problems suffer from unstable sleep. Encouraging good sleep hygiene and helping daughters understand their relationship with their body and sleep quality can set them up for lifelong health benefits.
Creating a future where pelvic health is no longer a mystery
Dr. Unsworth highlights another important aspect of change. “Health habits often form at home. It’s great to see more initiatives that will help teach new mothers about pelvic floor health. Children coming.”
However, “It’s never too late to start pelvic floor exercises. When many women start, symptoms don’t improve. Getting advice from a physical therapist will see improvements in symptoms to ensure you do things right.”
“Pelvic floor health is not just a personal issue, it’s a generational issue,” says Dunja Kokotovic, global brand manager at Interina. “Too many women believe that issues like incontinence and pelvic pain are just a part of life. If they are actually preventable and treatable, then starting to educate young women early will break the cycle of silence and give them confidence and control over future generations.”
On this Mother’s Day, Innityna encourages women to control their pelvic health and use their knowledge to empower the next generation. By breaking stigma, raising awareness and making pelvic floor care a normal conversation, mothers can ensure that their daughters are confident, informed and controlled for their happiness.
*The Intimina Survey was conducted in March 2025 by the entire census, with 4,001 women aged 35-55 years across the UK, France, Spain and Italy.
