# Do Kegels work? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 10, 2001, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-kegels-work/49373 "2001-01-10T18:33:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PeeWee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c0e974/32.png) [@PeeWee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeeWee)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2001, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-kegels-work/49373/1 "2001-01-10T18:33:36Z")
Ok, saw Kegels mentioned in another thread and it made me curious. Have any of you, male or female, tried doing the old Kegel exercises on a regular basis and actually seen any results? And if so, what were the results? ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2001, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-kegels-work/49373/2 "2001-01-10T18:40:40Z")
Well, I did them when I was pregnant and I don’t have to worry about coughing in public, if you know what I mean, in spite of having a 9 1/2 pound baby tap-dancing on my bladder for a while ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2001, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-kegels-work/49373/3 "2001-01-10T18:43:15Z")
I can’t speak to the results women have had with them, but when the missus did them, they sure worked for me. ---
**Author:** ![Stella\_Fantasia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@Stella\_Fantasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stella_Fantasia)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2001, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-kegels-work/49373/4 "2001-01-10T19:15:59Z")
I think I was the one who mentioned them, so you know what I’m going to say… Yes! Yes! Ohhhhhhhh yes! Don’t stop!! Yes!! YES!!! _rolls over, lights cigarette_ If you know what I mean. Not only do they increase the muscle tone of your pelvic floor, but also they increase your general physical awareness about that area & help you get in tune with yourself, sort of. & this is in addition to the benefit that cher3 mentioned, which is nothing to, er, sneeze at. ---
**Author:** ![PeeWee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c0e974/32.png) [@PeeWee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeeWee)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2001, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-kegels-work/49373/5 "2001-01-10T19:32:24Z")
Stella\*Fantasia, glad to hear they’ll do THAT for women - I’ll tell my girlfriend to start right away! :o) How about guys though? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? ---
**Author:** ![bunnymom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c4cdca/32.png) [@bunnymom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bunnymom)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2001, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-kegels-work/49373/6 "2001-01-10T19:53:31Z")
What cher said. Kegels are GREAT for keeping things ‘toned’. When I was preggers with both my boys, they really helped with the bladder bit. They are also good for helping you gain more control over that region. A win-win situation for everyone involved. 🙂 If you are going to recommend them to your GF, do so _very_ tactfully. If you aren’t careful about how you approach it, you may end up in trouble. Ex. “Babe, I think you _need_ to try these tightening excercises…” vs. " Babe, I learned something new and thought it might be fun to try…" See? One way you could imply that she is, shall we say, cavernous. That has potential to be quite unpleasant. As for the boys dong them - Well, BunnyPapa can do them, but truthfully they aren’t that exciting. Fun, but not mind-blowing, you know? Anybody else? ---
**Author:** ![diamud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@diamud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diamud)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2001, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-kegels-work/49373/7 "2001-01-10T20:02:48Z")
I am a male, my fiancee does Kegel exercise. I can say that they are great! ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2001, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-kegels-work/49373/8 "2001-01-10T20:11:35Z")
> [@](#): > > How about guys though? Through the miracle of kegel exercises, my stream is now so tight that not only can I spell my name in the snow, I can carve it in stone. Uh, is that what you were asking?