Pelvic floor exercises: Help for incontinence, sexual health, and more
These simple exercises are more intricate than you may realize. Here's what you need to know.
- Reviewed by Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Say the word "Kegels" and chances are it'll prompt an involuntary muscle contraction and a vow to add pelvic-floor conditioning to the to-do list. And there are plenty of reasons why you should. Kegel exercises (repeatedly squeezing and contracting muscles that help you hold in urine) strengthen pelvic floor muscles. And strong, well-toned pelvic floor muscles help women (and men, too) by supporting bladder control, improving sexual health, and bolstering the core and its related functions. But strengthening isn't all there is to pelvic floor exercise.
Pelvic floor muscle basics
The pelvic floor muscles span the bottom of the pelvis and provide support for the bladder, bowel, and core. In women, the pelvic floor also supports the uterus and contributes to sexual sensation and arousal. In men, these muscles are linked with erectile function and ejaculation.
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About the Reviewer
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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