Download our new podcast – pelvic floor workout
Listen on your computer or download to your mp3 to help you remember.
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Do you have trouble holding on when you need to go to the toilet?
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Do you leak when you cough or sneeze?
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Do you suddenly need to go so badly that you don’t think you'll make it in time?
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Does a fear of wetting yourself keep you from doing things?
Bladder or bowel control problems (known as incontinence) don’t just affect older people. Nearly one in five Australians experience incontinence (and the figures for women are higher, with one in three women who have ever had a baby affected).
Many women who have gone through pregnancy, childbirth and/or menopause will know that the effects of incontinence on self esteem, body image, morale, sexuality and overall quality of life can be distressing.
The good news is that it’s never too late to prevent or lessen the effects of incontinence by adopting healthy lifestyle habits including combining good nutrition that includes fruit, vegetables, fibre and water, with regular physical activity.
Strengthening your pelvic floor can help improve control over bladder and bowel function, reduce internal organs from sagging, help recovery from surgery and childbirth, increase sexual sensation and improve overall social confidence and quality of life.
It’s easy to see the benefits of doing regular pelvic floor exercises, but it can be difficult to remember to do them. |
