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You have your exercise equipment at home, have signed up for a wellness app, and maybe even a packed lunch – but what have you done for your vagina lately? The best Kegel weights, as well as sneakers and neat accessories, are there to strengthen your pelvic floor. Unsure what the pelvic floor is even? Think of it as a hammock that supports some very important organs, such as your uterus, bladder, and intestines – and keeps you from going number one or two when you need to go. The pelvic floor enables childbirth, but it is also very much involved in your sex life.
Dr. Carol Queen, a psychologist at Good Vibrations, explains Glamor that “pelvic floor muscles have many functions and their well-being can affect a person in a number of ways, but they are certainly at the heart of sexual health because if they are too weak or tight, this can affect our activity. sex – especially those of us with vaginas, but everyone. “When these muscles are considered too weak, the biggest question people have is that this weakens the orgasm.” These muscles move when we come, and if they don’t ‘hard orgasm, the orgasm shorts are not very obvious,’ says the Queen.
There are many reasons why your pelvic floor muscles can weaken. It could be something that happened over time, as a result of getting older. Alternatively, you may experience weaker Kegel muscles after birth. If you suspect your pelvic floor may be in use, you’re not alone – according to a 2008 study from the NIH, 25 percent of women have experienced pelvic floor disorders.
How do Kegel exercises help strengthen your pelvic floor?
Kegel exercises, whether you want to use a product or not, can help. These exercises involve a series of contracting and relaxing your pelvic floor muscles to strengthen them. “Doing Kegel means you are making a short contraction of your pelvic floor muscles by ‘closing the openings’ (my idea for women is to close the anus gently, the then the urethra, then the urethra), ”pelvic floor physical therapist Heather Jeffcoat, DPT explains. Glamor. However, it is important to talk to a medical professional before self-prescribing Kegel exercises because sometimes exercising your pelvic floor muscles can lead to more damage. “If those muscles are short or inactive, Kegels could make their incontinence, pain or prolapse worse,” Jeffcoat says.
One possible effect of weak Kegel muscles is a condition called vaginismus, which is when the pelvic floor muscles spasm before or during penetrant sex, oftentimes making it very painful and uncomfortable. . Some people even experience pain when they insert a tampon. In this case, Jeffcoat informs her patients stad doing Kegel exercises, or even basic strength training (like pilates), as this may add to the condition.
There is also no “right” way to use your pelvic floor muscles. Some people prefer to do Kegel exercises on their own, and some need a physical device. It is entirely up to your choice and personal needs. An approved physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor therapy, Angela Fishman, explains Glamor, “Research shows that the use of vaginal weights actually strengthens our pelvic floor muscles; however, research also shows that using vaginal weights is not more effective than doing other pelvic floor muscle exercises, such as Kegels. So the lesson is, just do something! If the idea of lifting weights with your grin is appealing to you, go for it. If the thought turns your stomach, put Kegel away. ”
If you are looking for tools to help use your pelvic floor muscles, keep scrolling for the best Kegel weights that have the familiar clearance seal.