Kegel Strengthening... You're Not The Only One Who Needs To...

The aim of Kegel exercises is to improve muscle tone by strengthening the muscles of the pelvic floor.

Kegel is a popular prescribed exercise for pregnant women to prepare the pelvic floor for stresses of the later stages of pregnancy and vaginal childbirth. Kegel exercises are also said to be good for treating vaginal prolapse and preventing uterine prolapse in women and for treating prostate pain and swelling resulting from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis in men.

Kegel exercises may be beneficial in treating urinary incontinence in both men and women. It is said that they may also increase sexual gratification, help reduce pre-mature ejaculation and provide men with stronger erections.

To begin, you must first be able to find your PC muscle. You can do this during urination. Once your flow begins, try to stop it completely. The muscle that you feel tightening is the PC muscle. If you don’t get it, you may try inserting a finger (use lubrication) into the anus and try to “grip” your finger. If you are able to do that, you’ve found the right muscle.

Once you have become accustomed to tightening the muscle, Kegel exercises can be done anytime, anywhere.

In order to improve strength of the muscle, you use a “squeeze, hold, release” pattern. You squeeze the muscle, hold for several seconds, and release. Gradually, you would like to be able to build up to a hold of 10 seconds, repeating the “squeeze, hold, and release” ten times.

Ben Wa balls may also be used to increase the strength of the pelvic floor muscles. Ben Wa balls and other shaped vaginal weights are recommended by gynecologists and obstetricians to increase vaginal elasticity and bladder control. Ben Wa Balls can also be used during intercourse to increase stimulation of both partners or in a combination with a vibrator.