Jenny has a hard time focusing during the last 15 minutes of her meeting, crossing her legs and hoping no one asks a follow-up question so she can run to the bathroom before the next one starts.

Liz throws a megapack of pantyliners in her cart, noting that she’s at least saving a little by buying in bulk.

Sarah has been avoiding a beach day with her family because of what happened the last time: pee dripping through her swimsuit and down her thigh as she walked across the uneven sand. She can’t wear a pad in the water, and there’s nowhere close enough to change – so she's stuck risking another visible leak.

Sound familiar? Fighting the urge to go because you’re in the middle of something? Missing out on fun experiences because there’s no good way to accommodate for leaks?

These little interruptions, this constant nagging is just one aspect of pelvic floor problems that can become so routine, we forget it’s not normal. 

What is pelvic floor dysfunction?

Pelvic floor dysfunction is a nebulous term that includes a range of issues: pelvic organ prolapse, hypertonicity, diastasis recti, urinary and fecal incontinence, and more. Most women recognize the symptoms, either from personal experience or they’ve become standard jokes among new moms and perimenopausal women: pee/poop leaks, urgency, frequency, back pain, pain with sex, hip pain, UTIs. Pelvic floor dysfunction is rooted in the inability of pelvic floor muscles to relax and coordinate movement, most likely because of a previous injury or condition (such as pregnancy) that led to weakened muscles.

How much do pelvic floor problems cost?

This is a tricky question to answer, but one we hear all the time – which is why we’re diving deep into both the financial and personal costs of living with and treating pelvic floor issues. It’s also a very important question: the more clarity you find around what your issues are costing you, the better equipped you’ll be to make decisions moving forward.

There are the more obvious costs that show up on your bank statement, like medical appointments and personal care items, as well as less obvious ones you may not have considered. Pelvic floor dysfunction can affect the quality of your relationships, contribute to your mental load, and interrupt your daily responsibilities, both at work and at home.

You likely found this article because you’re a numbers girl: you want the facts and figures. We’ll get to those, but the more women we encounter the more we realize the extent of the HIDDEN costs, the ones more difficult to quantify.

Do you struggle to be present?

In an era where women assume about 70% of the cognitive household labor, chances are you’ve got a lot on your mind. Whether you’re a new mom tracking feeding schedules and wake windows, a lawyer who puts a grocery order in between clients, or the volunteer soccer coach trying to remember which kiddo has a bee allergy (or you’re all three of these women on the average Tuesday), you’re juggling a lot. Managing a chronic health issue – which pelvic floor dysfunction IS – adds a layer of complication. And yes, even if it’s “just a little pee when you sneeze,” you’re dealing with a chronic health condition.

Pelvic floor problems make it even harder to be present.  

This especially hits home for women who deeply value their relationships: with their spouse, children, grandchildren, friends, as well as women with ambitious career goals. Ever try to enjoy the playground while dealing with a headache that won’t go away? “Background pain,” like pelvic pressure, feelings of heaviness, tightness in your back or hips, seeps into everything, diminishing your ability to engage. There are enough things preventing women from showing up the way they want – the myriad of issues in their mental load – without adding an additional layer of pain. 

Pee issues like urgency or frequency impact your ability to be present as well. Tighten Your Tinkler Signature Program member Jennifer B. talks about how running to the restroom between meetings interfered with her ability to be as effective as she wanted to be at work. It’s one thing to take a quick break here and there, but when urination becomes something you strategize around, there’s an issue. (Not sure if you pee more than what’s normal? Take our free quiz to gauge where your bladder is at.)

Less frequently discussed is the impact of pelvic floor issues on intimacy. It’s widely reported that 1 in 4 women experience pain with intercourse, which is often attributed to pelvic floor dysfunction. Pain with sex costs women pleasure, as well as impacts their relationships. This is another cost of living with pelvic floor issues that’s nearly impossible to quantify but can’t be left out.  

What are those pee leaks costing your monthly budget?

For most, leaks are the first issue that comes to mind when they think of pelvic floor issues. At first glance, managing a little pee in your undies when you cough or sneeze doesn’t seem like such a big deal: wear a pantyliner and move on. The problem is that over time, those leaks become more frequent and more intense – and pantyliners become pads that become adult diapers. A study in 2005 found that on average, American women with incontinence issues (leaks) spend $900 per YEAR managing their symptoms (Obstet Gynecol., L. Subak, J. Brown). Over the course of 10 years, that’s $9,000: the equivalent of a beautiful European vacation, spent managing dysfunction. 

If you live with incontinence and that number seems high (or frankly, too low) to you, we’d LOVE to hear your real-world, 2024 experience! Track your spending for a few months and get in touch using our Contact page. The more details (relative cost of living in your area, what your issues look like, what you’re purchasing, etc.), the better!

What happens if pelvic floor dysfunction goes untreated?

The truth is that pelvic floor issues very, very rarely clear up on their own – and the earlier you take action, the better. Your body continues to learn how to compensate for pelvic weakness, training muscle habits that become harder and harder to undo.

Put simply, you have two options:

1. Live with your current issues and plan for them to worsen in coming years.
2. Choose a time to get to the root of the problem: maybe now, maybe in 2 months.  

For most women, Option 2 is the preferred choice – but how? When? And how much is THAT going to cost? Let’s explore common treatment options.

How much does pelvic floor surgery cost?

In progressed cases, surgical intervention might be needed. Pelvic reconstructive surgery is an outpatient procedure (sometimes - an overnight hospital stay is also common) costing an estimated $6,233 - $9,035 (with varying coverage by insurance). Most women require 2-6 weeks to recover, meaning no work (or driving) for a minimum of 14 days. It’s important to note that there’s a 25% failure rate for this kind of surgery. If you’ve been referred for surgery, we recommend asking a lot of questions and doing some research before scheduling. This study from the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology might be a helpful place to start.

How much does pelvic floor physical therapy cost?

Pelvic floor physical therapy is becoming more readily available (and much more popular). While sessions can cost up to $600, we’ve found the average to be closer to $250 (again, insurance coverage varies in the United States). Some women are referred to a series of four sessions, while others may require up to a year of treatments. In addition to the appointment cost, many physical therapists suggest purchasing pricy internal devices (which we do NOT recommend) and are rarely covered by insurance.

How much does the Tighten Your Tinkler Signature Program cost?

Women with pelvic floor issues scoring in the Green - Gold Zone (Unsure of where you are? Take our free quiz here) have an additional option: the evidence based, research-backed Tighten Your Tinkler Signature Program. 

Taking a holistic perspective on pelvic floor health, the TYT Signature Program uses gentle movement, relaxation, and other tools to help women heal. There’s often some initial sticker shock at the $597 price tag – understandably so! – as well as questions as to what’s all included. You can learn more here, but that one-time payment (vs. an untold number of therapy appointments) includes the equipment you’ll need, as well as lifetime access to the digital program and community support. 

The Tighten Your Tinkler team strives to keep costs as low as possible so they can stay in business while making the Signature Program as accessible to as many women as possible. We’re occasionally able to offer a promo code (see below), and as of 2022 we’re able to accept HSA/FSA payment options. 

How long does it take to fix pelvic floor dysfunction?

Effort and time are required to see results (your pelvic floor problems won’t poof! away after you key in your credit card number). Just like a gym membership requires you to show up to see benefits, the Signature Program takes consistent action over time. Most women see meaningful positive changes within their first 30 days, and continue to measure additional improvement at the 60 and 90 day marks. 

Do you offer a guarantee?

Yes, Tighten Your Tinkler offers two levels of money-back guarantee so you can relax and dig into the program without worrying about whether the financial investment was “worth it.” Relaxing is an integral part to healing these issues!

You can find more information about our guarantees at the bottom of this page.

Is there a Tighten Your Tinkler Signature Program promo code?

When able (we keep our margins very tight!), we love to offer temporary promotions. To celebrate Mother’s Day, we’re offering a one-time promo code MOM24 to take $50 off. Occasionally, past participants will offer to “pay it forward” by sponsoring part of the program cost. If you’re ready to dive into the Signature Program but are genuinely unable to afford the full cost, please reach out to [email protected] to see if any of these scholarships are available. You can also get started today with the free materials on our Resources page.

Mentioned in this article:

Free diagnostic quizTighten Your Tinkler Signature Program
Collection of resources for pelvic floor dysfunction