The pelvic floor muscles form a broad sling between your legs from the pubic bone in front to the base of your spine at the back. The first picture shows a healthy pelvic floor, with the muscles tight, the second picture shows weakened pelvic floor muscles that have sagged.
They form a cradle to hold the bladder, womb and bowel in place and to control the muscles that close the anus, vagina and urethra.
When the pelvic floor muscles become weak or damaged as shown in the second picture, as the result of childbirth for example, they cannot do this effectively.
Pelvic floor weakness is a major cause of stress incontinence and in some can cause prolapse Stress incontinence, or bladder weakness means that you might leak small amounts of urine while coughing, sneezing, laughing or exercising. It is estimated that up to 25 per cent of new mothers suffer from stress incontinence.
A staggering 1/3rd of all sanitary towels sold are for stress incontinence.
In addition to the distress that stress incontinence can cause, many women and their partners report decreased satisfaction in their lovemaking and intimate pleasures.
How can pelvic floor exercises help me?
Pelvic floor exercises can strengthen these muscles so that they function effectively again. The more you use them, the stronger they will be Strong pelvic floor muscles can support the extra weight of pregnancy, help in the second stage of labour and, by increasing circulation, assist in healing the perineum between the anus and vagina after birth. When done regularly, pelvic floor exercises can help to prevent stress incontinence, bladder weakness and prolapse in later life. Another benefit of pelvic floor exercises is that women with strengthened pelvic floor muscles are more likely to be orgasmic and have a more satisfying sex life!
How do I find my pelvic floor muscles?
Pelvic floor exercises are taught to women as second nature, especially after childbirth. We are told to do them whilst watching TV, doing the washing up, or standing at the bus stop. In reality it is not so easy. The most difficult aspect that we hear in our customer feedback is the is the ability to isolate the pelvic muscles and exercise them effectively - we have all done the squeezes and wondered, "Am I doing it correctly?" Women are told to squeeze, to stop their wee during midstream, lots of women can do that instinctively (some of us have had lots of practice of stopping ourselves!), unfortunately that doesn't help those of us who suffer spontaneous leakage when we least expect it.
When practicing the "squeezing" techniques women are also to do the following:
o Pulling in their tummy
o Squeeze their legs together
o Tighten their buttocks
o Hold their breath
Crikey, remember as a child patting your head and circling your stomach? We have found when a woman uses a product specifically designed to exercise her pelvic floor she is then able to do the exercises more thoroughly and she will achieve greater success.
Pelvic exercisers help to isolate the pelvic floor muscles effectively, by isolating these muscles, we mean the muscles are specifically worked - this gets the best results. By effectively isolating the muscles we all get the best results and our pelvic floor muscles work as nature intended.
Women tell us they find it difficult to use their pelvic floor muscles in isolation at first because they are doubtful that they have effectively located the correct muscles. Pelvic exercises are so much easier with a pelvic exerciser. However any woman can do Pelvic Floor Exercises any time of the day, anywhere.
When can I do my pelvic floor exercises?
You can do these exercises standing up, sitting or lying down, or while carrying out a range of daily activities such as boiling a kettle, talking on the telephone or watching television. Here's how:
o Hold in the muscles of your back passage and those around your vagina as if trying not to go to the loo or holding in wind.
o Tighten these muscles to the count of eight and hold, release and repeat once, twice, three times.
o When you hold the tension in your pelvic floor muscles keep on breathing all the time!
o Release and relax, do it again!
o When you return to the normal position, push the muscles out. Then tighten up the pelvic floor again.
o Repeat this several times a day while doing everyday tasks.
Now try to alternate between slow pull-ups and "short and sharp" fast pull-ups. First: lie, stand or sit with your knees slightly apart. Then follow these instructions:
o Slow pull-ups: Slowly tighten and pull up your pelvic floor muscles as hard as you can. Hold for as long as possible, then relax slowly.
o Fast pull-ups: Pull up the muscles and relax immediately.
Repeat both of these exercises five times or until you are tired.
As your muscles get stronger, the contraction can be held for longer and more pull-ups achieved. After a few weeks, improvement should be very noticeable but you will need to exercise these muscles regularly for several months before they gain their full strength.
How often do I need to exercise my pelvic floor muscles?
You can easily do your pelvic floor exercises several times a day, whether you use a Pelvic Exerciser or perform the exercises unaided. Depending on how weak your pelvic floor is to begin with, we recommend you aim for 50 a day and increase this over a few weeks to 120 daily. (If you've had problems with bladder weakness and leakage, do enough repetitions per day to make sure your symptoms don't recur.)
For an occasional check to see how strong your pelvic floor muscles are becoming, try halting the flow of urine in mid-stream (but not first thing in the morning).
Once you have regained good control, you can test your muscles:
o Make sure your bladder is nearly full.
o Do several star jumps in a row.
If no leakage occurs, continue the exercise programme for at least one month. Once your pelvic floor muscles are strong, it is important to maintain them. Continue the exercises two or three times daily for the rest of your life.
I've heard that Pelvic Exercisers are more beneficial, is that true?
Many women find that they either lack the discipline to do their pelvic floor exercises or they are unsure they are doing them properly. The simple way to test if you are doing your exercises is to place your fingers inside your vagina and tense around them, you'll be able to feel is you are hitting the right spot, and working the muscles effectively. Alternatively many women buy specific pelvic or kegel exercisors for better more effective results. Four of the best kegel exercisers are featured here, as always, fully tried and tested by the Passion8 team.
Kegel8 Results Within Weeks
Pelvic Exercises made easy with the new Kegel8. For fast, effective Pelvic Exercises and improved bladder control use the Kegel8 you will achieve noticeable results within weeks.
Athena - Pelvic Muscle Trainer - it works!
The Athena - Pelvic Muscle Trainer is cordless and lightweight. The Athena - Pelvic Muscle Trainer locates and exercises the pelvic floor muscles easily meaning every woman can have stronger pelvic floor muscles which improves her bladder control and love-life!
Pelvic Toner - Pelvic Muscle Exerciser The Pelvic Toner is our best selling pelvic muscle exerciser with proven results! Spring loaded for efficient pelvic exercises.
Remember the following to maintain your Pelvic Health o Tense the pelvic floor muscles if you are afraid you might leak - before you sneeze or lift something heavy. Your control will gradually improve.
o Avoid pressure to your pelvic floor and back - don't do straight-leg sit ups and double-leg lifts, which put severe pressure on the pelvic floor and the back, bend your knees and again, tense your pelvic floor muscles as you lift.
o Drink normally and don't go to the toilet 'just in case' - only go when you feel that your bladder is full making sure you empty your bladder completely.
o Watch your weight - extra weight puts strain on your pelvic floor muscles, women who have "mysteriously" regained control of their bladder weakness fail to link it to weight loss - we wish more Doctors would mention this to women complaining of bladder weakness.
o New Mothers - If you have given birth within the last 3 months and you are still suffering from bladder weakness despite regular pelvic floor exercises, mention it to your Health Visitor or Doctor. Between 20-30% of new mothers still suffer from stress incontinence and bladder weakness three months after delivery, and their Doctor may refer them to a specialist obstetric physiotherapist. Or for general information and a helpline, contact The Continence Foundation.
Clitoral Therapy Devices to overcome Female Sexual Dysfunction:
Regain your power for pleasure easily - A Clitoral Therapy Device is in essence a small pump with a tiny plastic cup attachment that fits over the clitoris and surrounding tissue. It provides gentle suction, stimulating blood flow to the area. Although some women with sexual arousal complaints like to use a clitoral therapy device for the stimulation effects, it may also overtime prevent fibrosis of th clitoris that occurs with ageing by enhancing blood flow in the arteries leading to the clitoris.
Thus a clitoral therapy device may have a preventative role as well as a therpautic one.
Vacuum Therapy has been proven to help with:
* Orgasm
* Lubrication
* Sensation
* Sexual Satisfaction
Clitoris Vibrator and mini pump for added sensation
Clitoris pumps have been clinically proven to help with lack of sexual response and orgasm in women. By using this Clitoris pump and vibrator the clitoris is enlarged and made more responsive. Amazing results.
Zestra Feminine Arousal Oil Zestra is effective, discreet and easy-to-use. It helps to increase female sexual pleasure in normal women, those with arousal difficulties, and in women suffering sexual side effects from antidepressant medications. View the trailer to see why American Women call Zestra "Viagra for Women".
Buyers Guide - Clitoral pumps and clitoris therapy vibrators
Professional have found that by using Clitoris Pumps and Clitoral Vibrators a womans sexual response can be improved and her capacity for orgasm greatly increased, read more:
Vaginitis:
Vaginitis is inflammation of the vagina, there are three main causes ranging from hormonal imbalance, infectious vaginitis, to irritant vaginitis.
Hormone Vaginitis - is most usually linked to perimenopause and menopausal women, causing itching and soreness it leads to vaginal dryness and irritation.
The vaginal mucous membranes thin and sexual intercourse may become painful and less pleasurable.
Infectious Vaginitis - is common between the ages of 16 - 46 and can be sparked by a yeast infection (thrush or candidiasis) or bacterial infection.
Characterised by vaginal itching and producing a vaginal discharge which can vary in colour and odour this should be referred to your doctor for effective treatment.
Irritant Vaginitis - produces itching and soreness in the vagina. It is thought that food allergies may be connected with this type of vaginal infection, also strong cosmetics, soaps and other man-made lotions and materials could trigger and outbreak.
It is advisable to use a water-based lubricant with no colour or additives. Beware too of spermicidal lubricated condoms and contraceptive jelly, a natural lubricant such as SYLK is ideal because it is totally natural and does not contain parabens.
Washing of the vaginal area can be done effectively with BioFem Actigel, a gynecological cleanser specially designed to not irritate the delicate lining of the vagina and restore the nature ph balance of the vaginal mucous.
Vitamin E has been proven to help increase the body's resistance to this irritation and Vitamin E Oil is effective to in relieving the symptoms of itching and irritation.
A few drops of Tea Tree Oil in a warm bath have also proven beneficial.
Chlamydia Home Test Kit - Simple & Easy
Between 1996 and 2005 chlamydia increased by 207%. Chlamydia has been the most commonly reported sexually transmitted disease since 2001, overtaking genital warts. This is the first time that a bacterial infection has held this title.
