How many times have you read an article about exercising the “love muscles” (aka your Kegels) and wondered if you were performing them correctly? You are not alone — research shows that 30% of women are not sexercising their levator ani* — pelvic or Kegel — muscles properly.
Board-certified gynecologist, fellowship-trained urogynecologist and reconstructive pelvic surgeon Dr. Lauri J. Romanzi is a firm believer that keeping the feminine foundation in good shape is healthy, vital and sexy. So much so, she encourages ALL women to pay as much attention to their pelvic fitness as they do their physical fitness. After all, Kegel exercises are not only important for women who are pregnant or who suffer extreme pelvic floor disorders.
According to Dr. Romanzi, “Kegels are the dental floss of the female pelvis. If you have a vagina and you’re old enough to vote, then you should be Kegeling every day.”
Introduced in 1948 by Dr. Arnold Kegel, research has proven Kegel fitness strengthens bladder control, as well as heightens orgasms. In addition, studies have also shown that if done correctly, Kegel exercise can improve pelvic muscle fitness, reduce urinary incontinence and prevent problems with vaginal laxity and dropped bladder. And while it is not verified, many doctors believe that regular Kegel exercise may reduce a woman’s lifetime vulnerability to the problem of pelvic organ prolapse.**
To ensure you are sexercising correctly, Dr. Romanzi recommends requesting a pelvic muscle check at your next gynecologic checkup.
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To schedule your Kegel Phitness signature service with Dr. Lauri Romanzi, contact Aesha Allen, Managing Director of PHIT, at 877-730-1875
*Levator Ani — an important part of the human body, the levator ani muscles form a sheet from one side of the pelvis to the other, attaching to the pelvic bones all around, wrapping around the bladder, vagina and rectum as they pass through the center of this muscle sheet. This anatomic proximity is why Kegel exercises help women with incontinence problems. Clinical data shows that many women will have trouble doing the exercise properly if they rely only on written instructions. A simple checkup can sort out whether or not a woman’s Kegel coordination is correct.1. Bump RC, Hurt WG, Fantl JA, Wyman JF. Assessment of Kegel pelvic muscle exercise performance after brief verbal instruction. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1991:Aug;165(2):322-7.
2. Romanzi LJ, Polaneczky M, Glazer HI. Simple test of pelvic muscle contraction during pelvic examination; correlation to surface electromyography. Neurourol Urodyn 1999;:18:603-12.
** Prolapse — literally means “to fall out of place.” In medicine, prolapse is a condition where organs, such as the uterus bladder or rectum, fall down into the vagina or bulge out of place. Female pelvic organ prolapse is caused by factors that weaken or damage the connective tissue and muscular supports of these organs.
Tags: kegel, men, orgasm, PHIT, postpartum, preventive health, rejuvenation, Tantra, women