9 Things You Might Not Know About A Pelvic Floor + Why It Matters

Pelvic floor muscles tend to weaken in response to significant bodily changes, like pregnancy, injury, menopause, or childbirth. This can lead to issues like incontinence, painful sex or orgasms, low back pain, and more. Here are the nine things everyone should know about their pelvic floor muscles in order to properly care for them.

That weakening can lead to incontinence issues later in life. We sneeze, we cough, we're doing an exercise, and, next thing you know, there's a leak. While this is more common in elderly people, urinary incontinence can be treated, so it's important to incorporate preventative exercises early on.

As our hormone levels naturally decline, it leads to vaginal dryness, thinning of the vaginal lining, and even pain during intercourse. A decrease in estrogen can lead to muscle loss1, including in the pelvic floor. Exercising those muscles regularly is one way to stay on top of these natural changes.

Pregnancies, improper form while exercising, and living a sedentary life all affect our pelvic floor muscles, not just menopause. So, remember, prevention is key. It's never too early to start prioritizing your pelvic floor muscles.

It's true that healthy pelvic floor muscles can help you have stronger orgasms, but if you're not having sex, don't write this off. Having healthy pelvic floor muscles is vital for women to live a pain-free, incontinence-free, and healthy life, regardless of their sexual activity.

Using Kegels to exercise your pelvic floor muscles is essential, but there are other lifestyle changes you can make. Sitting less frequently, and incorporating more movement through the form of stretches and lower-body exercises into your daily routine can help.

Oftentimes, I have patients who regularly do their Kegel exercises, yet continue to have issues. The usual reason? They're not doing them correctly. If you're not sure if you're doing them correctly, work with a pelvic floor physical therapist who can give you proper guidance. Here: a guide to kegels and reverse kegels.

If you don't keep your pelvic floor muscles strong and healthy, they won't be able to provide long-term support for your vagina, bladder, and uterus. Along with painful sex, incontinence issues can interfere with a desire to have sex due to low self-esteem and sexual distress2. I've also heard patients whose urinary leakage caused them to stop biking, horseback riding, and playing sports.

Wouldn't it be great to live your life confidently without worry of leakage? You may have increased confidence and self-esteem—you can laugh, cough, or sneeze without fear.

When it comes to supporting your pelvic floor, digestion is also important. Constantly straining or clenching can affect these muscles. Staying hydrated, eating fiber-rich foods, taking a good probiotic, and reducing stress, are all ways to support healthy digestion.