Love, Sex, Kegels - What
is there to know?
Love, sex and Kegel
exercises have a special connection. Most women have
heard about Kegel exercises; however it is often
followed by “they do not work.” Some women know you can
practice them anywhere and anytime, and … they can come
in very handy while having sex, for the enjoyment of
both partners.
A lot of women are
focused on strengthening their body and have
incorporated skeletal muscle training in their exercise
routine. With all the emphasis on training the biceps,
abdomen and quadriceps, the pelvic floor muscles have
been overlooked.
Muscles that can help
with continence of urine and feces should not be
neglected. If the pelvic muscles are trained and strong,
it will not cure all urinary and fecal incontinence, but
will at least improve it. The improved control can
benefit stress incontinence as well as overactive
bladder issues. After training the pelvic floor, there
will be more control.
It is also important
not to move the muscles in the wrong/opposite direction.
A lot of women, when they think they are contracting the
pelvic floor, in fact relax and let the urine/feces go.
Remember when you were quickly turning the key in the
lock, because you had to go so badly? Maybe
instead of contracting the pelvic floor, you let it go!
For the more flexible
women it is easy to check if you contract your pelvic
floor muscles. Position two fingers in your vagina and
try to contract your pelvic floor muscles. If you do not
feel anything happening, it is time to wake the sleepy
muscles up. In my clinic I have vaginal probes and
computer guidance to start the initial strengthening.
Usually patients will need about 3 sessions to really
get what the “Kegels” are all about and then they can
practice as much as they need.
It is time to stop
ignoring your pelvic floor muscles and get some strength
into them.
Nine out of ten women
who get examined in my clinic have no idea how to
contract the pelvic floor muscles. A lot of them can
contract the anal sphincter, which is a start to pelvic
floor awareness.
 Over
the years, I was afraid only once to have my fingers
“squeezed off” when I checked for pelvic floor muscle
strength. The patient was a gym teacher who had taught
people how to do Kegels for years.
If you can consciously
contract and relax your pelvic floor muscles, it can
enhance your sexual experience as well as your possible
partners'. You may want to practice first, before
letting go on your partner. It can definitely enhance
the sexual sensation since you can actively
narrow/contract your vagina. And as in clinical
practice, you can do this slow and hold for 5-10 counts
or fast sessions of 5 or 10 in a row.
Your orgasmic
experience can be enhanced with a better awareness and
control of your pelvic floor musculature. If not that at
least you can control the loss of urine and feces.
Love, sex and Kegels --
now you know how it all falls into place.
If you just like to
learn how to do Kegels, you can schedule a consultation
with Dr. Sprock at Central Florida UroGynecology.
Marja Sprock, M.D. is a fellowship trained
urogynecologist in Rockledge.
For more information
call 321-806-3929 or www.CFUroGyn.com |
