April 2012 - Wendy Pua | Malaysia Chinese Lifestyle Blogger

Why Kegel exercises matter ?

Kegel exercises — along with counseling and sex therapy — may also be helpful for women who have persistent problems reaching orgasm.Many factors can weaken your pelvic floor muscles, from pregnancy and childbirth to aging and being overweight. This may allow your pelvic organs to descend and bulge into your vagina — a condition known as pelvic organ prolapse. The effects of pelvic organ prolapse range from uncomfortable pelvic pressure to leakage of urine. Pelvic organ prolapse isn't inevitable, however. Kegel exercises can help delay or even prevent pelvic organ prolapse and the related symptoms.

How to do Kegel exercises ?

It takes diligence to identify your pelvic floor muscles and learn how to contract and relax them. Here are some pointers:

Find the right muscles. Insert a finger inside your vagina and try to squeeze the surrounding muscles. You should feel your vagina tighten and your pelvic floor move upward. Then relax your muscles and feel your pelvic floor return to the starting position. You can also try to stop the flow of urine when you urinate. If you succeed, you've got the basic move. Don't make a habit of starting and stopping your urine stream, though. Doing Kegel exercises with a full bladder or while emptying your bladder can actually weaken the muscles, as well as lead to incomplete emptying of the bladder — which increases the risk of a urinary tract infection.
Perfect your technique. Once you've identified your pelvic floor muscles, empty your bladder and sit or lie down. Contract your pelvic floor muscles, hold the contraction for five seconds, then relax for five seconds. Try it four or five times in a row. Work up to keeping the muscles contracted for 10 seconds at a time, relaxing for 10 seconds between contractions.
Maintain your focus. For best results, focus on tightening only your pelvic floor muscles. Be careful not to flex the muscles in your abdomen, thighs or buttocks. Avoid holding your breath. Instead, breathe freely during the exercises.
Repeat three times a day. Aim for at least three sets of 10 repetitions a day. You might make a practice of fitting in a set every time you do a routine task, such as checking email, commuting to work, preparing meals or watching TV.

When you're having trouble ?

If you're having trouble doing Kegel exercises, don't be embarrassed to ask for help. Your doctor or other health care provider can give you important feedback so that you learn to isolate and exercise the correct muscles.

In some cases, biofeedback training may help. During a biofeedback session, your doctor or other health care provider inserts a small monitoring probe into your vagina or places adhesive electrodes on the skin outside your vagina or anus. When you contract your pelvic floor muscles, you'll see a measurement on a monitor that lets you know whether you've successfully contracted the right muscles. You'll also be able to see how long you hold the contraction.

If necessary, electrical stimulation is sometimes an option. During this procedure, your doctor or other health care provider applies a small electrical current to your pelvic floor muscles. The current makes the muscles contract, which produces a buzzing feeling. Once you get used to the sensation, you'll probably be able to duplicate the exercise on your own.

When to expect results ?

If you do your Kegel exercises faithfully, you can expect to see results — such as less frequent urine leakage — within about eight to 12 weeks. For some women, the improvement is dramatic. For others, Kegel exercises simply keep problems from getting any worse. For continued benefits, make Kegel exercises a permanent part of your daily routine.

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7 Reason Why Your Pelvic Floor Needs You

1.		Beauty Starts With Better Health
		Like other muscles, without regular exercise, your Pelvic Floor muscles stretch and weaken as part of the natural process of aging. It is recommended that every women exercise the Pelvic Floor mucles twice daily in order to keep them fit and healthy, maintainin a beautiful you both inside and out

2.		Childbirth And Pregnancy
		Strong Pelvic Floor muscles play a big role in giving you a safe and healthy pregnancy. During pregrancy, the Pelvic Floor muscles have to carry the additional weight of the baby and during childbirth, the Pelvic Floor muscles help to push the baby out, ensuring a smooth delivery.

3.		Natural Aging And Menopause
		Strengthening the Pelvic Floor muscles can make menopause a less daunting experience by helping you to avoid incontinence, organ prolapse and sexual dysfunction.

4.		Elevates Confidence And Improves Sexual Response
		As Pelvic Floor muscles are directly responsible for contracting rhythmically during orgasms, strong Pelvic Floor muscles enchance the overall sexual experience for both you and your partner

5.		Prevent Pelvic Organ Prolapse
		The Pelvic Floor muscles hold the pelvic organs (bladder and uterus) in position. Strong Pelvic Floor muscles are required to ensure that the pelvic organs do not sag and fall into the vaginal canal.

6.		Avoid Or Treat Incontinence
		Urinary incontinence is a frustrating problem and can happen to any woman. Strengthening the Pelvic Floor muscles can prevent and treat incontience.

7.		Alternative To Surgery, Medication, Adult Diapers And Pads
		Strong pelvic floor muscles help you to prevent urinary incontinence and organ prolapse, allowing you to avoid the inconvenience and cost associated with treating these avoidable problems.