Committing to a pelvic floor workout.
Ah, yes, the muscles of our pelvic floor. I’ve never been able to commit to regularly exercising my pelvic floor muscles.
But, of course, menopause happened. Suddenly my pelvic floor muscles were firmly (no pun intended) on my radar as troubling symptoms started to appear.
More than 1 billion women worldwide have pelvic floor disorders like incontinence or prolapse, so I’m not alone, and it’s not always triggered by menopause.
Pelvic floor dysfunction or weakness can be distressing for many women, so before we get to the solution, let’s look a the causes.
What causes pelvic floor weakness?
Weakness or dysfunction of the pelvic floor muscles can occur at any time in your life, and if it does, the symptoms are varied, and it’s no fun.
Pelvic floor weakness or dysfunction occurs through an injury, such as during childbirth, or muscle weakness developed over time. It can also become more problematic with age and in the years of menopause.
Symptoms of pelvic floor weakness.
Pelvic floor dysfunction has been linked with an overactive bladder, urinary leakage, urge incontinence, decreased libido and arousal, and pain during sexual activity. (Handa, Cundiff, Chang, & Helzlsouer, 2008)
An overactive bladder can present in the following ways.
- A sudden urge to urinate, with or without leaking urine.
- Having to urinate more frequently than you used to, waking up more than a couple of times during the night to go to the bathroom, or feeling that although you’ve just been to the loo, you feel as if you need to go again.
Of course, it’s important to note these symptoms can be associated with a bladder infection or other medical conditions, so it’s essential to see your doctor for a proper diagnosis.
Intimate well-being and sexual health
The pelvic floor comprises layers of muscle that act as a hammock at the bottom of the pelvis to support your pelvic organs; the vagina, uterus, bladder and bowel.
These muscles attach from side to side (sit bone to sit bone) and front to back (pubic bone to tailbone).
The primary function of the pelvic floor is to assist in your sexual response and support the rhythmic contraction of orgasm. Keeping the clitoris engorged when aroused while lengthening and softening allows for comfortable vaginal penetration.
The pelvic floor muscles play a significant role in a healthy and satisfying sex life. When problems with pelvic muscles occur, sex can become painful and far from enjoyable.
So what can be done?
I know, I hear you groaning, not Kegel exercises!! I’m with you. For me, they feel challenging to do; there seems no way to measure my progress, and without the guidance of a physiotherapist, how do I know if I’m doing my Kegel exercises correctly?
How about a high-tech Kegel exerciser home device?
A device that assists in strengthening the pelvic floor muscles when they become weak or injured? Looking around the internet, you’ll find Kegel exercising devices are everywhere, leading to the 21st-century problem of too many choices. Which Kegel device is the best, and will it be right for you?
Well, I discovered Perifit, and it’s made Kegel exercising fun. Literally. It’s an intimate device that connects via Bluetooth technology to oh-so-cute but challenging games on an app on your smart device, and you can exercise your pelvic floor while measuring your progress.
Perifit Kegel Exerciser with a gaming app
So, most women know Kegel exercises strengthen the pelvic floor to combat incontinence and pelvic floor issues. However, almost 30% of women performing Kegel exercises are doing them incorrectly and potentially causing damage or, like me, don’t do them at all.
Perifit is a connected device that uses a unique double pressure-sensor technology to monitor the quality of your contractions through an app on your smart device.
The Perifit Kegel Exerciser lets you control video games while exercising your pelvic floor. Female health specialists designed the games to help you properly strengthen the pelvic floor to combat incontinence, prolapse symptoms and other pelvic floor disorders.
Perifit in review. Is it right for you?
- If you’d like to feel confident when laughing, running or even coughing.
- Urinary incontinence is a daily struggle.
- You’re interested in your sexual well-being.
- You’d like help to recover and heal after childbirth or gynecologic surgery.
Perifit is the ultimate Kegel exercise system, designed to help you heal and strengthen your pelvic floor and regain bladder control with real-time biofeedback via the interactive app.
Bladder overactivity, urge incontinence, and urinary leakage is life-limiting in our daily lives and distressing, and they shouldn’t be.
Okay, so I’m no gamer, but I think Perifit is a game-changer (pun intended), it’s both challenging and fun, and I’m noticing improvements with just a few workouts.
Of course, if you prefer the old-school method of kegel exercising, then you’ll find tips on how to do manual pelvic floor Kegel exercises over at juju.com.au.
For me, Perefit has become a practical and effective solution for bladder overactivity caused by pelvic floor dysfunction.
And now you.
Pelvic floor issues shouldn’t slow us down or disrupt our lives at whatever stage of life. If you found this article helpful or know someone who may, please share it on your social media.
See you next time,
Important notes:
If you suffer from pain in your pelvic region or have been diagnosed with pelvic prolapse, you must check with your primary health provider before commencing with Perifit.
Perifit usage is not advised during pregnancy as it has not been tested on pregnant women for ethical reasons. Perifit recommends performing manual Kegels if you are currently pregnant, only recommencing Perifit 6 weeks after delivery or when your primary health care provider gives you the all-clear.