Around 1 in 3 women will experience pelvic floor issues in their lifetime, so if you've noticed leaks during certain activities, you're not alone. Pelvic floor issues can be the result of a number of factors including aging, stress, and childbirth.
Following childbirth, most people will regain strength in their pelvic floor muscles within a couple of months, but for some, pelvic floor weakness can persist for months or even years.
Performing pelvic floor muscle exercises before, during, and after pregnancy can help to prevent pelvic floor issues, while it can also enable you to build back strength in your pelvic floor to improve bladder and bowel control, enhance sexual sensation, and speed up postnatal recovery.
In this guide, we’re going to look at how pelvic floor exercises can help to improve pelvic floor function and control urine flow.
What is your pelvic floor?
Your pelvic floor is a powerful layer of muscles that sits like a hammock between your tailbone and pubic bone, supporting your pelvic organs such as your bladder and uterus. It plays an important role in core stability, bladder control, postnatal recovery, and even sex.
Your pelvic floor muscles act as a support structure within your body. If your pelvic floor muscles are not strong enough, they’re unable to tighten and relax as they should. This can lead to pelvic floor issues such as urinary incontinence and constipation.