What are the pelvic floor muscles?
Table of Contents
This section aims to answer these commonly asked questions about pelvic floor muscles:
- What are the pelvic floor muscles?
- What do the pelvic floor muscles do?
- Why exercise pelvic floor muscles?
5 facts about pelvic floor muscles:
- The pelvic floor is a group of muscles which runs between the pubic bone (pubis) at the front, and the tailbone (coccyx ) at the rear.
- It’s purpose is to support and protect the pelvic organs – the bladder, bowel and gender-distinct reproductive organs.
- For most people, the pelvic floor muscles will prevent the development of urinary incontinence.
- Pelvic floor exercise, also referred to as kegel exercise, helps maintain a less-problematic pelvic condition, especially in older age.
- Sexual and/or reproductive performance can be affected by the health condition of the pelvic floor muscles.
What is the normal function of the pelvic floor muscles?
This section aims to answer these commonly asked questions about pelvic floor function:
- What is the function of the pelvic floor?
- What is a pelvic organ prolapse?
- How does pelvic floor exercise help?
5 facts about pelvic floor function:
- The muscles of the pelvic floor help in supporting the organs of the pelvis (bladder, bowel, and rectum).
- The pelvic floor can be weakened by many factors, including Infrequent urination, ageing, prostate surgery, or obesity.
- A pelvic organ prolapse is a loss of control of the pelvic floor. This can lead to urinary incontinence.
- Urinary incontinence refers to the involuntary loss of bowel or bladder control.
- A weakened pelvic floor can lead to a post-micturition dribble. This is a condition which causes a slow leak of urine after going to the toilet.
Do Pelvic Floor Muscles Weaken?
This section aims to answer these commonly asked questions about pelvic floor weakening:
- What are the symptoms of weak pelvic floor muscles?
- Why do the pelvic floor muscles weaken?
- What should I do to avoid pelvic floor muscle weakness?
5 facts about pelvic floor weakening:
- Weak pelvic floor muscles are often highlighted by an inability to correctly relax and coordinate during bowel movement.
- Symptoms can include constipation, straining to poop, having urine or stool leakage, or experiencing a frequent need to pee.
- The pelvic floor can weaken because of a lack of exercise, pelvic surgery, being overweight, or constant heavy lifting.
- To avoid pelvic floor weakening, regular, gentle kegel exercise should be attempted.
- Sit comfortably and squeeze the pelvic floor muscles 10 to 15 times, whilst Trying to keep other muscles relaxed.
Why Is It Important To Do Pelvic Floor Exercises?
This section aims to answer these commonly asked questions about pelvic floor exercise:
- What happens if pelvic organ prolapse does occur?
- Why is it important to strengthen the pelvic floor?
- How are pelvic floor exercises done?
5 facts about pelvic floor exercise:
- The pelvic muscle keeps the pelvic organs in place. A weakening of this can result in a pelvic organ prolapse, which can in turn result in erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and incontinence.
- Exercise can improve pelvic floor health and can reduce pain associated with constipation, sexual dysfunction, urge incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse.
- Kegel exercises are easy exercises to help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
- When beginning, tighten the pelvic floor muscles, hold the contraction for three seconds, then relax for three seconds. Repeat 10-15 times.
- Building up strength in the pelvic floor takes time.
Do pelvic floor muscle exercises work?
This section aims to answer these commonly asked questions about pelvic floor exercise success:
- Do pelvic floor exercisers work?
- Are pelvic floor exercises the same as kegels?
- Can physical therapists help with kegel exercise?
5 facts About pelvic floor exercise success:
- Pelvic floor exercise stimulates the muscles of the pelvic floor, and increases the effectiveness of the pelvic floor muscle contraction.
- Both Kegels and pelvic floor exercises work in the same way, with repeated contractions of your pelvic floor’s pubococcygeus (PC) muscles.
- Gadgets can be helpful in encouraging exercise, but they aren’t typically a shortcut to improving the pelvic floor.
- Doing kegel exercises is something that can be done easily alone, and with no physical therapists support.
- Kegel exercises are a matter of persistence. All that’s involved is flexing the pelvic floor muscles and then releasing them on a dedicated basis.
Can kegel exercises improve sexual performance for men?
This section aims to answer these questions about kegel exercise and sexual performance:
- Can kegel exercises improve sexual performance for men?
- Can kegel exercise improve your sex life?
- How else could you improve sexual performance?
5 facts about pelvic floor exercise success:
- Studies have found that strengthening the pelvic floor muscles can improve sexual function, such as erections, orgasms and ejaculations.
- Kegel exercises can help improve the volume and pressure of blood flowing to the penis and surrounding areas, making erections easier to achieve and maintain.
- Regularly performing Kegels can also help men experience more satisfying, intense climaxes.
- Pelvic floor muscles control the flow of semen. Strengthening them can improve self-control, and may reduce the occurrence of premature ejaculation.
- A kegel contraction can also be used to delay ejaculation. As the sensation of release emerges, the kegel should be initiated and held until the feeling subsides.
Further research and useful guides
- Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust Pelvic floor exercises for men PDF
- Prostate Cancer UK Pelvic floor muscle exercisesa