“No matter what you know about doing Kegels, there is something special about seeing what you are doing on the screen.”

• Why Pelvic Muscles Matter
• What Causes Muscle Weakness
• Benefits of Strong Pelvic Muscles
• What You Can Do

WHY PELVIC MUSCLES MATTER

Your pelvic floor muscles are perhaps one of the most important muscles groups in your body. The pelvic floor is a large hammock of muscles stretching from one side of your pelvis to the other. These muscles support the pelvic organs (bladder, rectum, and uterus. Most bladder control problems are caused by weak pelvic floor muscles.¹

Like any other muscle in your body, your pelvic muscles may lose tone if you don’t exercise them. In fact, without regular resistance exercise, pelvic floor muscles can lose up to 80 percent of their strength by the time a woman turns 65.² And as with any other muscle, this doesn’t happen all at once; it’s a gradual process that begins as early as your late teens.²

Weakened, thinner pelvic floor muscles can compromise your ability to maintain bladder control, and decrease vaginal sensation and may eventually lead to prolapse, which is the sagging of your pelvic organs.

Many women consider this just a normal part of aging. Luckily, when these muscles get weak, you can help make them strong again. Pelvic floor muscles are just like other muscles. Exercise can make them stronger. Exercising your pelvic floor muscles for just 5 minutes a day can make a big difference in your bladder control.

WHAT CAUSES MUSCLE WEAKNESS

Pregnancy and Childbirth

Hormonal changes, the added weight and pressure of pregnancy and delivery can weaken pelvic floor muscles. Unborn babies push down on the bladder and pelvic floor muscles. This pressure may weaken the pelvic floor support and lead to leaks.³

Menopause

During and after menopause, women produce less estrogen, a hormone that keeps the lining of the bladder and urethra healthy. Women also produce less progesterone, which also may contribute to dryness, weakness and thinning of the pelvic floor muscles.

Weight gain

Being overweight can put pressure on the bladder and contribute to incontinence.

Frequent, strenuous exercise

Even when you’re young, frequent, strenuous or high impact exercise can put stress and pressure on your pelvic floor muscles, which may cause leaks and accidents.

BENEFITS OF STRONG PELVIC MUSCLES

Strong pelvic muscles help reduce or eliminate bladder leaks and accidents, improve symptoms of frequent urges, prevent pelvic organ relaxation and enhance vaginal tone and sexual response.

Like any other muscles, your pelvic floor muscles can be strengthened with proper exercise. Regular pelvic floor muscle exercises (also known as Kegels) have long been recommended by physicians.

Doing these exercises correctly is not easy. Women often don’t perform the exercises long enough or may use the stomach muscles instead. Unsure if they are doing the exercises correctly, they often get discouraged and stop before they see any benefits.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

The Myself^® Trainer, is an easy to use, clinically studied and effective solution that will help you strengthen your pelvic floor muscles correctly.

Using The Myself^®Trainer for just 5 minutes a day as directed can help you gain the benefits of strong pelvic floor muscles.

In a recent survey of women who used The Myself^® Trainer, a majority of them said using the trainer improved their quality of life in a variety of ways from a significant decrease in leakage to an improved sex life.

1 (The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse) (NKUDIC) What I Need To Know About Bladder Control For Women, (August 2007, page 1) available at www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC)is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

2 Asp, K. (2001, July). Strengthening Pelvic Floor Muscles. American Fitness

3 The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse) (NKUDIC) Pregnancy, Childbirth and Bladder Control (May 2002, page 5) available at www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC)is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

Your results may vary, based on individual health conditions and consistency of use.

The information provided on this website should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice and care. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. If you have specific needs, please consult your professional health care provider.