Pelvic Health and Its Importance to Women Straight from the Expert
Have you ever found yourself in the awkward position of leaking a bit of pee when you laughed too much or sneezed a little too hard? Do you experience involuntary vaginal constriction that makes it difficult to have a sexy time with your partner? You’ve probably heard of Kegels, right? If all of these things are familiar to you, then you’re in the right place. Let’s talk about pelvic health.
What is pelvic health?
Everything that was just mentioned is related to pelvic health. It is the study of the muscles and organs found in the pelvis and their function. The pelvic floor area is located between your pubic bone (in front of the body) and your tailbone (back of the body).
We have spoken with Dr. Jennifer José, Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Urogynecologist, Aesthetic Gynecologist, Sexual Medicine Specialist, and founder of Pelvic Health & Intimate Wellness Center, so she could further explain the topic.
According to Dr. Jennifer José, maintaining good pelvic health is vital to everyone, especially women, because it impacts the general well-being of a person and could affect not only one’s urinary system but also their reproductive system and intimacy.
What is the function of the pelvic floor muscles?
The pelvic floor muscles support the bladder, uterus, cervix, vagina, and rectum so that they could function well. The contraction and relaxation of these muscles help control the passage of urine and feces. At the same time, it allows you to have a pleasurable (NOT painful!) sexual experience.
Apparently, leaking a bit of urine when you do normal activities such as sneezing and laughing is not normal but an indication of weak pelvic floor muscles!
How do pelvic floor muscles weaken?
They say that your body changes after giving birth, but they didn’t really mention how different it is going to be beyond the obvious stretch marks and weight gain. Dr. Jennifer José mentioned that it’s usually the first childbirth of a woman that damages her pelvic floor, no matter the age.
If not that, women naturally go through the stages of perimenopause and menopause wherein a decline in estrogen levels occurs, weakening of the pelvic floor muscles. Aside from these, other factors that may weaken the pelvic floor muscles are obesity and chronic constipation.
As a result, pelvic health issues and general concerns arise that affect the quality of life of all individuals. “You might be surprised that 1 in 4 women all over the world will experience urinary incontinence,” says Dr. Jennifer José. “Problems such as urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, pelvic organ prolapses, and sexual dysfunction arise due to weakened pelvic floor muscles,” she adds.
How can I strengthen my pelvic floor muscles?
Different yoga and pilates exercises can help strengthen your core and pelvic floor. Doing the right Kegel exercises is effective, too! You have to go see your doctor to make sure that you are contracting the right pelvic floor muscles.
Dr. Jennifer José strongly recommends women to undergo pelvic floor rehabilitation after childbirth to strengthen or tone up their pelvic floor muscles. Other individuals can also go for non-surgical treatments to address pelvic health issues or prevent them from arising. “I always offer non-surgical options first because they are highly effective with a much lesser chance of complications, especially for older patients,” says Dr. José.
Pelvic Health & Intimate Wellness Center in the Philippines is equipped with machines that provide a complete regimen for pelvic floor therapy which includes lasers, high-intensity focused electromagnetic chair, biofeedback machine, and a lot more.
Can my pelvic floor muscles be too strong?
We got a resounding yes! from Dr. Jennifer José. “It’s not because you exercised too much or had a lot of treatments to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. It’s a condition (hypertonic pelvic floor) wherein patients can develop difficulty in urinating, constipation, back pains, pain in the buttocks, and painful sex because of too much contraction,” says Dr. José.
This can be treated by pelvic floor reconditioning using the biofeedback machine at the Pelvic Health & Intimate Wellness Center.
Pelvic health plays a big role in every aspect of your life. If you want to live the good life, do not disregard any symptoms that you may be experiencing. Seek the professional advice of Dr. Jennifer José or visit Pelvic Health & Intimate Wellness Center. Send us a message to book your appointment or call +63 922 825 3266.
