Pelvic floor health: an essential conversation for women
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and connective tissue around the perineum and the urethra. It supports your organs, regulates the pressure in your abdomen and determines whether you keep control over urination, bowel movements and sexual function. Pregnancy, childbirth, intensive sport, age, hereditary factors, smoking, being overweight and the menopause can make these muscles too tight or too weak. Consciously learning to tense and relax your pelvic floor, during and after pregnancy, helps prevent or reduce problems, and talking about it is just as much a part of it.
What does the pelvic floor do?
The pelvic floor is an important but often neglected part of the female body, and it deserves more attention. This group of muscles and connective tissue around the perineum and the urethra plays a crucial role in supporting organs and regulating the pressure in the abdominal cavity. Keeping control over urination, bowel movements and sexual function depends directly on the health of these muscles.
Kyah van Wingerden, an experienced obstetric nurse, sees every day what happens when these muscles do not work properly: “In my work I see women struggling with pelvic floor problems every day, often as a result of pregnancy, childbirth and intensive sport. It is important that we take these problems seriously and encourage women to talk openly about their health.”
Want to know more about Kyah? Visit her Instagram for the latest updates and inspiring content for mothers: @kyahvw.
Which pelvic floor problems occur?
Pelvic floor problems range from muscles that are too tight to muscles that have weakened, with symptoms such as incontinence, prolapse and discomfort during sex. Besides pregnancy and childbirth, age, hereditary factors, smoking, being overweight or the menopause can also contribute to problems. Be aware of these risk factors and take preventive measures in good time.
Kyah stresses the importance of awareness and timely treatment: “During pregnancy the pelvic floor undergoes considerable changes, partly because of hormones such as relaxin. After the birth it is essential to keep training the pelvic floor muscles to prevent or reduce problems.”
How do you train your pelvic floor muscles?
“What many women do not know is that it is important to train your pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy but also after the birth. Learning to relax and tense your pelvic floor muscles. You can do this by becoming aware of these muscles and learning to tense and relax them. You can do this throughout your pregnancy and also in the period straight after the birth.”
Kyah van Wingerden
Self-care plays a crucial role in keeping a healthy pelvic floor. Regular pelvic floor exercises, both during and after pregnancy, help prevent problems. Excessive physical activity, such as intensive sport, can actually contribute to pelvic floor problems. Healthy habits and consulting a healthcare professional in good time are therefore very important.
What are the benefits of a pelvic floor trainer?
A pelvic floor trainer supports you in strengthening your pelvic floor muscles. A training device like this helps you exercise in a targeted way, which can contribute to preventing and reducing pelvic floor problems.
With regular use you can improve your control over urination, bowel movements and sexual function and regain your confidence after a pregnancy or with other risk factors.
Why does the taboo need to be broken?
Pelvic floor problems are a common health issue for women that often goes unspoken. Kyah encourages open communication: “There is often unwarranted shame around pelvic floor problems. It is important that women feel free to talk about their health and to seek help in good time. By speaking openly, we can break stigmas and help women maintain a healthy quality of life.”
By raising awareness, explaining things and talking about it openly, we can help women improve their pelvic floor health and prevent problems. The goal is a future in which pelvic floor health is a normal topic of conversation and women get the support they deserve for a healthy and active life.
“What I would like you to take away is that this really is a common problem for women and that these complaints are serious. Become aware of your symptoms and get to work on them. But above all, talk about it with each other.”
Kyah van Wingerden
Giveaway: an Elvie pelvic floor trainer
When this article was published, we ran a giveaway on our Instagram account with an Elvie pelvic floor trainer as the prize, a valuable tool for strengthening and supporting your pelvic floor muscles. See the giveaway on Instagram. The giveaway was about more than giving away a pelvic floor trainer; we organised it for these reasons:
- Raising awareness: pelvic floor problems are often overlooked and surrounded by shame. By putting the topic prominently on our platform, we show women that they are not alone and that it is normal to talk about this health issue.
- Lowering the threshold: many women find it uncomfortable to discuss pelvic floor problems, even with their healthcare provider. With a pelvic floor trainer you can work on your pelvic floor health at home, easily and without feeling awkward.
- Encouraging self-care and prevention: by actively doing pelvic floor exercises you can prevent or reduce problems. The trainer is a practical tool for doing those exercises properly and so improving your overall health.
- Taking charge of your own health: with knowledge, tools and support, we encourage women to look after their pelvic floor proactively. That contributes to a better quality of life and more confidence.
- Sharing experiences: anyone who takes part becomes part of a group committed to pelvic floor health. Sharing experiences and tips can inspire others to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle too.
Summary
- The pelvic floor supports your organs and controls urination, bowel movements and sexual function.
- Pregnancy, childbirth, intensive sport, age, hereditary factors, smoking, being overweight and the menopause are risk factors.
- Problems range from muscles that are too tight to weakened muscles, resulting in incontinence, prolapse and discomfort during sex.
- Train your pelvic floor consciously during and straight after pregnancy, with a pelvic floor trainer if you like, and seek help in good time.
- Talk about it: unwarranted shame keeps women away from the help they need.
Frequently asked questions
When do you start pelvic floor exercises?
According to Kyah van Wingerden you can exercise throughout your pregnancy and also in the period straight after the birth. It is about consciously learning to tense and relax the muscles.
What does a pelvic floor trainer do?
A pelvic floor trainer helps you exercise and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles in a targeted way, so that your control over urination, bowel movements and sexual function improves.
Can sport damage your pelvic floor?
Yes, intensive sport is one of the causes of pelvic floor problems. Healthy habits and consulting a healthcare professional in good time help prevent that.
