What are pelvic floor problems?
Pelvic floor problems include: leaking urine, leaking gas or, more rarely, feces, sexual dissatisfaction, and a sagging of the inner organs. It is important for every woman to understand what she can do to keep her pelvic floor strong and protect it from injury. Pelvic floor exercises known as Kegels are exercises that were developed for women to help tighten vaginal muscles and increase feeling during intercourse, particularly following childbirth. In order to do Kegel exercises, you will first need to find the pubococcygeal muscle. It is the muscle that you ‘squeeze’, when you try to hold back urine. Tightening or squeezing this muscle (not the butt muscle!) should feel like pulling everything up inside of your pelvis. Try to do sets of 10-20 or more. These exercises can be done at any time when you are sitting, standing or lying down. In Calgary, women with pelvic floor problems can be referred, by their doctor, to the Pelvic Floor Clinic.