This question actually lead me to this forum. I’ve been researching this but there doesn’t seem to be any concrete evidence to support one side or the other. Obviously the plastic surgeons have vested interest in emphatically proclaiming kegels to be ineffectual but common sense tells me that when I lift weights or do Pilates, and I’m contracting and tightening those muscles, I’m building muscle tone? How can that same contracting/tightening of the pelvic floor muscles do nothing? I’ve also done kundalini yoga and they refer to that area (pelvic floor muscles) as the root chakra. When moving energy up the spine it begins by squeezing the root chakra, and I know after activating that “lock” over and over again in class, things felt a bit more snug down there. Not to mention the Sikhs think one could potential experience orgasm just by squeezing those muscles repeatedly. Interesting stuff and after 2 kids delivered naturally, something HAS to work! Overall I’m 85% or so leaning towards believing they work but I’d be very interested in any scientific info, testimonials, bizarre facts/info anyone has about this. (new to this forum so hope this kind of talk isn’t considered to be inappropriate) :o
After two BIG babies, I had a pelvic prolapse that only got worse as I got older. The stress incontinence and frequent bladder infections just emphasized the fun.
I chased relief for over ten years.
In 2005 I had surgery to “install” a bladder sling. I still have occasional stress incontinence, but it is NOTHING like it was. The relief I have now is profound.
One gynecologist I saw in that 10-year span was a proponent of Kegel exercises. He was kind of a bully, anyway, but he swore up and down if I lost weight and became a Kegel master my problem would be gone forever.
Someone else who actually knows something about this will post soon enough, possibly even Unca Cecil and hopefully you will get the answer you are looking for
At the top of each board the are the rules and FAQ’s, they are taken pretty seriously here but everyone makes newbie mistakes, the NSFW(Not safe for work) is pretty important as many Dopers dope from work, the Mods(moderators) are here to help and will tell you if you are out of line.
I do kegels. Then again, meetings are boring and at least it’s something to occupy a tiny part of my brain while appearing to be paying attention to The Big Cheeze. “Fast-fast-sloooowww… fast-fast-slooooowwww…” In any boring corporate meeting, I can almost guarantee that at least one woman watching with rapt attentiveness is, ah, otherwise occupied.
ETA: welcome, silvertung.
