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Kegel Exercises and You

By Danna Schneider

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 17May2007 Word count: 462 Viewed: 502 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Kegel exercises are unheard of by many women and yet they may benefit women's health in a variety of ways. What are they? Kegel exercises are designed to strengthen all the muscles that support your urethra, bladder, uterus and rectum.

In the 1940's, Dr. Arnold Kegel, a gynecologist, recommended these exercises for his patients to avoid stress incontinence after childbirth. Thus, the name, Kegel exercises persists today.

It is not just after childbirth, but lifelong, that women often have problems with stress incontinence.

There are other reasons for doing Kegel exercises as they increase circulation to your vaginal and rectal areas. For women who are pregnant, Kegel exercises can speed healing from an episiotomy done during childbirth. Also, Kegel exercises can reduce the chance of developing hemorrhoids from childbirth.

A Kegel exercise consists of a squeezing and lifting action of your vaginal wall muscles. While doing a Kegel exercise, do not tighten your tummy, buttocks or leg muscles. Hold the Kegel exercise for about 10 seconds then relax for a few seconds.

Kegel exercises should be done in sets of ten, three or four times during the day. When you first start, just do a few at a time, several times a day, then work your way up to sets of ten.

Kegel exercises will assist a pregnant woman to have an easier delivery as the pelvic floor muscles will be more toned. The likelihood of tearing during delivery will be reduced.

Another approach to determine if your pelvic floor muscles are in good shape is to try to stop your urine flow in midstream. If you can do this, these muscles are in good condition. If not, try doing Kegel exercises, and you will see a difference.

To do Kegel exercises correctly, think of them as "winking" your vagina. Positioning in various ways while doing Kegel exercises can further tone your pelvic floor. Try doing Kegel exercises while lying down, sitting up, squatting and on all fours.

Kegel exercises can help women at other times in life than just while they are pregnant. They can make sex with your partner more enjoyable at any time, not just during the postpartum phase.

Kegel exercises can help women of all ages reduce the risk of prolapsed uterus, stress incontinence, overactive bladder and unsatisfactory orgasm. Many women report having stronger more satisfying and multiple orgasms after an ongoing routine of Kegel exercises done correctly.

Later in life, after menopause, Kegel exercises done as a routine from midlife on, can increase vaginal wall thickness and lubrication. In addition to reducing the risk of urinary incontinence, Kegel exercises can prevent or reverse rectal incontinence.

It will usually take about 3 or 4 weeks to see an improvement in stress incontinence from a routine of Kegel exercises.

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