Pelvic Floor Muscle Training

The Female Body

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Pelvic Floor Muscle Training

By Dr. Audrey Romero

Kegel in 1948 was the first to report on the effectiveness of Pelvic Floor  Muscle Training (PFMT) as an option for women with urinary incontinence.   Cure rates as high as 84% have been reported in women undertaking pelvic floor muscle training and PFMT is considered a conservative treatment option for urinary incontinence. While many surgeons consider the surgical option to be the first line therapy, many women have become interested in PFMT due to cost of surgery, morbidity of surgery and complications and relapses reported after a surgical procedure.

Many women feel they perform Kegel exercises appropriately however; a common mistake is to contract other muscles such as abdominal, buttocks and hip muscles. In addition it has been demonstrated that many women strain instead of squeeze and lift. If women are straining instead of performing the correct contraction the training may harm and NOT improve the pelvic floor muscle functions. It is therefore imperative that proper assessment of the ability to contract the pelvic floor muscles is achieved.

Studies have clearly demonstrated that pelvic floor muscle training with an instructor is significantly more effective than attempting to perform the exercises at home alone.   Sessions usually consist of one on one assessment and guidance in the "retraining" of the pelvic floor muscles.  The goal of PFMT is to create a strong structural support (stiff pelvic floor), that will support bladder and pelvic organs.  

• Biofeedback: aids in helping women become more aware of muscle function and helps to enhance and motivate women during the training periods.
• Vaginal Cones: Weights that are placed in the vagina. The way the cones work is that the pelvic floor muscles contract reflexively or voluntarily when the cone is perceived as slipping out.   Cones are used to give training stimulus and make women contract pelvic floor muscles harder with each progressive weight.
• Electrical Stimulation: Used to stimulate activity of pelvic floor muscles when patients are not able to contract their muscles.

Pelvic floor muscle training has been demonstrated to be a viable option in the management of urinary incontinence and is now available with The Rubino OB/GYN Group.

Once a woman has learned the appropriate way to perform her kegel exercises she is able to maintain her pelvic floor support as she ages. PFMT is available to any woman who feels she would like to strengthen her pelvic floor.   In addition, PFMT has also been shown to help in women who have issues with pelvic pain and pain with sexual relations.

Please make an appointment with one of our doctors to discuss options available to start the training of your pelvic floor muscles. 

Have you ever wondered during a gynecological visit where your uterus actually was? or your bladder? It is beneficial to know the different parts of your female anatomy. It can be especially helpful if you are experiencing issues to pinpoint the area that is effected.

The female reproductive organs include:

Cross-sectional view:

• Vagina: The vagina is a canal that joins the cervix (the lower part of uterus) to the external genital organs - one of which is a sensitive mound of tissue, comparable to the tip of the penis, called the clitoris. The vagina is also known as the birth canal.
• Cervix: The lower part of the uterus that separates the body of the uterus from the vagina
• Uterus (womb): The uterus is a hollow, pear-shaped organ that is the home to a developing fetus. The uterus is divided into two parts: the cervix, which is the lower part that opens into the vagina, and the main body of the uterus, called the corpus. The corpus can easily expand to hold a developing baby. A channel through the cervix allows sperm to enter and menstrual blood to exit.
• Ovaries: The ovaries are small, oval-shaped glands that are located on either side of the uterus. The ovaries produce eggs and hormones.
• Fallopian tubes: These are narrow tubes that are attached to the upper part of the uterus and serve as tunnels for the ova (egg cells) to travel from the ovaries to the uterus. Conception, the fertilization of an egg by a sperm, normally occurs in the fallopian tubes. Fingerlike projections called fimbriae (located at the opening of the fallopian tubes) sweep an egg released from an ovary into the tube. The fertilized egg then moves to the uterus, where it implants into the lining of the uterine wall.

A couple of years ago, Parents Magazine did a tribute for Mother's Day   based on interviews from moms on how to balance the challenges of motherhood with maintaining your happiness and well-being.

In this article, we share some of the feedback from that original tribute, and add some of our own. To all the mothers, we wish you a very happy Mother's Day.

1. Go outside. Fresh air, sunlight and nature are natural mood enhancers. It is also a great opportunity to combine fresh air with exercise including power walking with your child in the stroller.

2. Get enough sleep. Being sleep-deprived is a top contributor to mood swings, over-eating and lack of clarity. Whenever possible, try to ensure you are getting 8 hours of sleep at night. It can make a huge difference in your productivity and happiness.

3. Carve out time for yourself. It is important to ensure you get time alone to recuperate and be you, not just "mom".

4. Spend time with friends. Sharing common stories, helping each other cope with issues and knowing you are not alone can be very freeing.

5. Bend the rules - you made them! Allow you and your children to break free from structure once and a while and turn the mundane into magic. It can relieve the stress of a daily routine.

6. Laugh. Laughing is one of the best stress releases as it produces the happy brain chemical serotonin. And kids love to see their parents smile and have fun.

7. Eat the good stuff. Try to eat healthy meals with your kids that incorporate lots of vitamin rich foods. The positive effects of healthy food include steady blood sugar which will keep everyone happy, less moody and energized.

8. Ask for help. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it or get a sitter so you can escape for a couple of hours. It does not make you any less of a mom. As many have quoted, sometimes "it takes a village."

9. Ex-er-cise! The endorphins you get from regular exercise will help you feel better about yourself, have more energy, keep you healthy, burn calories, help you cope better and best of all, give you a social outlet.

10. Hug. There is nothing better than the feeling of hugging the ones you love and them hugging you back.

This month, we introduce Jacqueline, our new receptionist at The Rubino  OB/GYN Group.

Jacqui joined The Rubino OB/GYN Group in January of this year. She has 20 years experience in client services.

Jacqui shares she is married to "Mr. Wonderful" for 23 years and has two beautiful daughters. She absolutely loves being a soccer and lacrosse mom and enjoys spending time with her family and friends whether having morning coffee, playing cards or having dinner together.

Please join us in welcoming Jacqui.