Bowel Health and Your Pelvic Floor: What You Need to Know
Bowel Health and Your Pelvic Floor
Bowel problems are among the most common — and most silently suffered — health issues there are. If something doesn't feel right, you are not alone, and you have more power to change it than you might think.
Let's be honest. Bowel health is not something most of us talk about — not with friends, not always even with our GP. There is something about these conditions that makes people feel isolated, embarrassed, or resigned to just getting on with it. But here is the truth: bowel problems affect millions of people in the UK, they are closely connected to pelvic floor health, and in many cases there is a great deal you can do.
Your pelvic floor muscles support your bladder, bowel and reproductive organs. They play a direct role in your ability to control when and how you empty your bowel — and a weak or poorly coordinated pelvic floor can contribute to everything from constipation and straining to bowel leakage and prolapse. The good news is that a stronger pelvic floor helps with all of it.
Over 1 in 10 people experience bowel incontinence at some point in their lives — and the majority never seek help because they feel too embarrassed.[1] Constipation affects around 1 in 7 adults in the UK at any given time.[2] IBS affects up to 1 in 5 people.[3]
These numbers matter — because they mean that whatever you are going through, someone in your street, your workplace, your family is going through it too. You deserve information and support, not silence.
How your pelvic floor and bowel are connected
The pelvic floor is a hammock of muscles that sits at the base of your pelvis. It wraps around the urethra, vagina (in women) and rectum — and it works constantly, holding things in when it needs to and releasing when you are ready. When those muscles are weakened, overly tight, or poorly coordinated, the effects on your bowel can be significant.
If any of these sound familiar, read on. The pages below go into each condition in detail — what is happening, why, and most importantly what you can do about it.
Conditions where Kegel8 can help
Constipation and Your Pelvic Floor
Chronic constipation is not just about diet. Straining, incomplete emptying and a poorly coordinated pelvic floor all play a role — and the right support makes an enormous difference. Discover why squatting changes everything, and how pelvic floor exercises reduce the strain that causes so much long-term damage.
Kegel8 Ultra 20 V2 · V for Men · Go Better Toilet Stool · SRC Restore
Read: Constipation and Your Pelvic Floor →Bowel Incontinence: Causes and What to Do
Leaking from your bowel — whether wind, liquid or stool — is one of the most distressing and least talked-about conditions there is. It affects far more people than statistics suggest, because most suffer in silence. You do not have to. A stronger pelvic floor can make a profound difference.
Kegel8 Ultra 20 V2 · V for Men · SRC Restore · Emy
Read: Bowel Incontinence — Causes and What to Do →IBS and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Irritable bowel syndrome and pelvic floor dysfunction often go hand in hand — and yet the connection is rarely explained. If you have been told you have IBS but treatments aren't working, your pelvic floor may be part of the picture. Here is what the research says and what you can do.
Kegel8 Ultra 20 V2 · V for Men · Go Better Toilet Stool
Read: IBS and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction →Pelvic Floor Dyssynergia
Pelvic floor dyssynergia is when the pelvic floor muscles tighten instead of relaxing when you try to pass a bowel movement — making it painful, incomplete, or impossible. It is underdiagnosed and often mistaken for constipation. Understanding what is happening is the first step to changing it.
Kegel8 Ultra 20 V2 · V for Men · Emy · Go Better Toilet Stool
Read: Pelvic Floor Dyssynergia →Diverticular Disease: Managing It Naturally
Diverticular disease affects 70% of people over 80 — but most people with it don't know, and those who do are often unsure what to do. Diet, hydration, and bowel habits all matter enormously. Here is a clear, practical guide to managing symptoms and protecting your gut long term.
Go Better Toilet Stool · Kegel8 Ultra 20 V2 · SRC Restore
Read: Diverticular Disease — Managing It Naturally →Other bowel conditions — what you need to know
Some bowel conditions require specialist medical management and sit outside what Kegel8 products can directly support. But understanding them matters — particularly their connection to pelvic health and when to seek help.
Bowel cancer
One of the most common cancers in the UK, most often diagnosed in people over 60. Symptoms that are persistent, don't respond to over-the-counter treatment, or include unexplained weight loss or rectal bleeding should always be investigated by your GP. When caught early, bowel cancer is very treatable.[4]
Crohn's disease
An inflammatory bowel disease affecting the entire digestive system from mouth to anus. There is no cure, but symptoms can be well managed with medication, diet and lifestyle changes. Usually develops between ages 10–30 and again 60–80.[5]
Ulcerative colitis
The most common inflammatory bowel disease, affecting 1 in 420 people in the UK. The bowel and rectum become inflamed in response to an autoimmune reaction. With good management, many people achieve long periods of remission.[6]
Coeliac disease
An autoimmune condition where eating gluten triggers an immune response that damages the small intestine. It cannot be cured but is very effectively managed by removing gluten from the diet. Affects at least 1 in 100 people in the UK, with the majority being women.[7]
Bowel infections
Caused by viruses, bacteria or parasites entering the digestive system. Most resolve within a few days as the immune system responds. Persistent symptoms, or symptoms in vulnerable people, should be assessed by a GP.[8]
Always speak to your GP if you notice rectal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, a persistent change in bowel habit lasting more than three weeks, or symptoms that do not improve with self-care. These can occasionally indicate something that needs prompt investigation.
Kegel8 recommends
5 Things That Support Your Bowel Health Right Now
Kegel8 Ultra 20 V2 — for Women
The pelvic floor muscles directly control bowel function. Strengthening them with the Kegel8 Ultra 20 V2's targeted 12-week programme supports better bowel control, reduces straining, and helps prevent prolapse and incontinence.
Shop the Ultra 20 V2 →Kegel8 V for Men — for Men
Bowel problems don't only affect women. The Kegel8 V for Men is specifically designed to strengthen the male pelvic floor — supporting bowel control, reducing straining, and helping prevent and manage bowel incontinence.
Shop Kegel8 V for Men →Go Better Folding Toilet Stool
The single most overlooked change you can make for bowel health. Squatting fully relaxes the puborectalis muscle, allowing complete, strain-free evacuation every time — reducing the risk of constipation, haemorrhoids and prolapse.
Shop the Go Better Stool →SRC Restore Support Garments
Clinically proven compression garments that support the pelvic floor and perineum throughout the day — particularly useful during exercise, long days on your feet, or recovery from bowel-related surgery.
Browse SRC Restore →SELFCheck Bowel Health Test
Not sure where to start? The SELFCheck Bowel Health Test lets you check for signs of bowel conditions from the privacy of your own home — a simple, empowering first step towards understanding what is going on and getting the right help.
Shop the SELFCheck Test →
Frequently asked questions
The pelvic floor muscles wrap around the rectum and play a direct role in bowel control — both holding and releasing. When these muscles are weakened, overly tight, or poorly coordinated, the effects can include constipation, straining, bowel urgency, incomplete emptying, and in some cases bowel leakage. Strengthening and retraining the pelvic floor is one of the most effective things you can do for long-term bowel health.
Yes — in several ways. Pelvic floor exercises improve the coordination of the muscles involved in bowel movement, helping them relax properly when you need to pass a stool. They also improve circulation in the pelvic area and reduce the tension that can contribute to incomplete emptying. Used alongside a squatting toilet stool and good hydration, pelvic floor exercises are a highly effective part of managing constipation.
Absolutely. Constipation, IBS, bowel incontinence, diverticular disease and pelvic floor dyssynergia all affect men and women in significant numbers. Men are less likely to seek help — but the pelvic floor is just as important to male bowel health as female. The Kegel8 V for Men is designed specifically to address this.
Key signs that your pelvic floor may be involved include: difficulty fully emptying your bowel, a feeling of needing to strain, a sensation of something blocking the exit, urgency that is hard to control, or leaking wind or stool. If your bowel symptoms don't improve with dietary changes alone, it is worth asking your GP about a pelvic floor assessment — or starting pelvic floor exercises alongside your other treatments.
Completely normal — and completely understandable. But please don't let embarrassment stop you from getting help. Bowel problems are among the most common health issues there are, and GPs discuss them every single day. The longer these conditions go untreated, the harder they can be to manage. You deserve support — and the first step is simply talking about it, whether to your GP, a trusted friend, or a pelvic health physiotherapist.
See your GP if you notice rectal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, a persistent change in bowel habit lasting more than three weeks, or symptoms that are significantly affecting your quality of life. Most bowel conditions are very treatable — especially when caught early. Don't wait and hope it goes away on its own if something feels wrong.
Clinically proven tools and expert guidance — because wherever you are starting from, you have the power to make it better. Our team in East Yorkshire has been helping women and men for over 30 years. We are here for you.
Sources & further reading
- NHS (2022). Bowel incontinence. National Health Service. [Viewed 22 May 2026]. www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-incontinence
- NICE (2024). Constipation. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. [Viewed 22 May 2026]. cks.nice.org.uk/topics/constipation
- NHS (2023). Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). National Health Service. [Viewed 22 May 2026]. www.nhs.uk/conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs
- NHS (2023). Bowel cancer: Overview. National Health Service. [Viewed 22 May 2026]. www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer
- NICE (2019). Crohn's disease: management. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. [Viewed 22 May 2026]. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng129
- NHS (2022). Ulcerative colitis: Overview. National Health Service. [Viewed 22 May 2026]. www.nhs.uk/conditions/ulcerative-colitis
- NHS (2023). Coeliac disease: Overview. National Health Service. [Viewed 22 May 2026]. www.nhs.uk/conditions/coeliac-disease
- Health Direct (2024). Infections of the bowel. [Viewed 22 May 2026]. www.healthdirect.gov.au/bowel-infections
