Did you know that if your pelvic floor has been weakened, it can lessen the sensation of an orgasm? Oh! The horror! Unfortunately, it is a natural process. Over time, the pelvic muscles may weaken as a result of child birth, the ageing process, weight gain or trauma, and the everyday stresses of life can impact the strength and flexibility of your pelvic floor.
A strong Pelvic Floor is crucial to maintaining bladder control. 1 in 3 women and 1 in 10 men face bladder issues daily and it's something we don't tend to talk about. Rest assured at InHealth.ie we have the expertise to supply you with the best Pelvic Toner to suit your needs. A strong pelvic floor helps prepare your body rebound from the strains of pregnancy, childbirth, ageing and impact sports.
What are my Options?
Introducing the award-winning Elvie...the smallest kegel tracker available. Over 98% of Elvie testers found it comfortable - It’s a small, smoothly shaped pod, that you slip in just as you would a tampon. Via Bluetooth, the ELVIE Kegel Tracker links to the Elvie app, which tracks your progress through 5 minute, game-like pelvic floor exercises. The exercises include on-screen games that give you feedback on how you are doing. If your technique is wrong, the Elvie will correct you, since 30% of women push down instead of lifting up which can lead to mage.
The Elvie featured as a gift in this year's Oscars Goodie Bag and is loved by celebrities worldwide, including Gwyneth Paltrow who has even decided to sell it on her own blog in order for other women to get a superior quality product. If you’re interested in strengthening your pelvic floor—for more bladder control, a better orgasm, a solid core—but you’ve been unsure about how to do it effectively, this makes it pretty simple.
You can visit here for more info >> ELVIE Kegel Tracker
The UK's No. 1 Pelvic Floor Exerciser in the last decade has been the Kegel8, and for good reason! Boasting noticeable results within weeks, the Kegel8 Pelvic Floor Exercisers have up to 20 Clinically Proven Programmes built in to their devices, to target incontinence, prolapse, pelvic pain and more. With different probes suited to different symptoms, Kegel8 will have a pelvic trainer suited to you.
The Kegel8 Ultra 20 is by far the best selling Pelvic Toner from the Kegel8 brand and deals with restoring your pelvic floor. The Tight & Tone model is for preventative measures, and for people who want to combat pelvic floor issues before they happen. Obviously this is the one we would be recommending to everyone to use to prevent issues but in most cases these devices are being bought when the issues already occured - which is fine, and Kegel8 does give results in just a few weeks!
If you would prefer a Pelvic Floor Exerciser that does not involve any insertion device, then the INNOVO non-invasive way to restore your pelvic floor is perfect. Using a hand held controller that is attached to a two part garment worn on your upper thighs, the INNOVO activates all the muscles of the pelvic floor and bladder. Unlike the devices mentioned above, this product does the pelvic floor exercises for you! No it's not cheating, it's just very clever.
Don’t pad the problem and don’t pretend it didn’t happen as you consign your wet knickers to the laundry basket, because damp urine soaked panties are smelly, uncomfortable and bad for your self-esteem!
Even though stress incontinence is so common, many women don't realise how easy it is to treat, and that there are a wide range of options available to them.
What can cause stress incontinence?
· Pregnancy – carrying your baby for nine months takes its toll on your pelvic floor muscles and the extra weight can make them weak. Hormones released during pregnancy can also make your pelvic floor muscles weaker.
· Childbirth – you can sustain nerve damage during childbirth. If you have a vaginal tear or episiotomy you are more likely to suffer from incontinence.
· Ageing and the menopause – hormone changes means the muscles, ligaments and fibres supporting your pelvic organs are not as ‘elastic’ as they once were.
· Overweight – if you are overweight you are TWICE as likely to suffer from stress incontinence. The extra weight is just too much pressure on your pelvic floor.
· Medication – some medication can contribute to stress incontinence. Statins help to relax your muscles – Woops there goes your pelvic floor again and leaks galore. Anti-depressants can also have the same affect.
· Smoking – as well as having a 3x higher chance of developing cancer of the bladder, the coughing plays havoc with your pelvic floor. Constant coughing makes your pelvic floor weak which means it will be unable to support your bladder properly resulting in more leaks.
What can you do about stress incontinence?
· Kegel Exercises – Kegels or pelvic floor exercises will help strengthen the muscles in your pelvic floor so they can continue to support your vital organs giving you greater control.
· Vaginal Pessary – A pessary device inserted into the vagina presses against the bladder neck and urethra so you have less leakage.
· Prescription Medications – Some drugs can treat stress incontinence. Anticholinergics can help to control bladder contractions. A tricyclic antidepressant may sometimes be prescribed to help relax the bladder muscle. Side effects from these drugs can include dry mouth, fatigue, and blurred vision. Some people may not be able to take these medications, however.
· Surgery – Various surgical operations are used to treat stress incontinence. They tend only to be used when pelvic floor muscle exercises have not helped and they aim to tighten or support the muscles and structures below the bladder.
· Tension-free Vaginal Tape (TVT) Procedure – This is a sling of synthetic (man-made) tape surgically implanted to support the urethra and bladder neck. However recent lawsuits in the US and mounting complaints about pain and tape erosion are concerning to say the least. Colposuspension is another operation to support the urethra and treat stress incontinence.
Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) is a sign you need to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and this is where a pelvic toner can help, even if you opt for surgery your weakness will still be there and other organs within your pelvic area are likely to prolapse! Take a look at our range of pelvic toners and specialist pelvic floor exerciser products to help you regain control of your bladder.