Your pelvis is a bony bowl that connects your body to your legs, which contains and protects internal organs like the womb, bladder and bowel. Keeping your pelvis and the organs it protects healthy is important for physical, mental, social and sexual health.
Let’s talk about your pelvic health
Pelvic floor
Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles underneath your pelvis, between the tops of your legs. These muscles surround your clitoris, your urethra, your vagina, and your anus.
These muscles are very important to help to support your pelvic organs and control your bladder and bowel movements.
If you are experiencing problems with your pelvic floor, have new, unexplained symptoms, or changes in your bowel or bladder habits and are not seeing an improvement after three months of regular pelvic floor exercises, talk to your doctor to check there are no other medical conditions causing these problems.
If you feel like you haven’t been listened to or your problems haven’t been solved by speaking to a healthcare professional, the Wellbeing of Women website has advice on the steps you can take.
Exercising your pelvic floor
Pelvic floor muscle can strengthen and get more coordinated with training. Done correctly, regular pelvic floor exercises can reduce leakage and improve bowel, bladder and sexual function, enhancing your quality of life. They are easy to do anywhere without needing to lie down. You can start exercising your pelvic floor at any stage of life.
Some people find using an app very helpful.
The Squeezy App has been recommended by physiotherapists in Dorset.
Pelvic floor muscles – POGP
