How to fight an embarrassing down-there issue and why Kegels can make things worse

Pelvic floor problems? Urine trouble.If you find yourself leaking from time to time — or constantly feel like you need to run to the bathroom — it may be time to admit you’re struggling with incontinence.And despite what you may have heard, it’s not just moms that have this issue.“Pelvic floor dysfunction comes in many shapes and sizes.Most often, our minds go to pregnancy and childbirth, especially in the presence of perineal tearing, prolapse, or associated leaking,” Dr.

Amanda Neri, a pelvic floor therapist and the founder of The Pelvic Institute, told the New York Post.First things first: There are actually two kinds of incontinence, and it’s not just having a little pee sneak out every time you sneeze.And each of these problems has different solutions.“For urge incontinence — rushing to the bathroom and leaking — we will try urge defer techniques which include sitting on a flat surface, breathing diaphragmatically, distraction methods, and quick fire pelvic floor contractions to help calm down the urge to void,” Neri said.“For stress incontinence — leaking with increased pressure i.e.

coughing, laughing, sneezing, jumping, etc.— we will work on coordination and strengthening, which may including pelvic floor contractions and other strength exercises for patients to do at home.”If there’s one thing she wouldn’t recommend — despite what TV and fitness influencers have told you — without getting the green light from an expert, it’s Kegels.“It’s important to note that pelvic floor contractions — AKA Kegels — are not appropriate for all patients and can make symptoms worse in some cases, so it’s important to receive an individual assessment before doing them at home,” she said.Kegels can actually make pelvic floor dysfunction worse if the issue is muscle tightness or poor coordination rather than weakness.In this case, repeatedly contracting already tense muscles can increase pain, urgency and pressure instea...