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Unless youre actively doing a Kegel, you probably dont think much aboutengaging your pelvic floor.
JLco - Julia Amaral/bigjom/Getty Images
You suck in your stomach or tuck your butt as you go about your day.
Or perhaps you just clench your glutes and midsection in moments of anxiety.
But you generally dont want to yank your torso out of its happy natural alignment.
You push to get your pee out faster or strain to poop.
It all comes down to the fact that youre applying a lot of downward pressure.
You pee just in case before leaving the house.
Youve probably heard that holding your pee too long is problematic.
This can, again, put pressure on your pelvic floor and cause weakening and damage over time.
Generally, that gives your bladder enough time to expand fully and maintain its true capacity.
You hold your breath when you exercise or exert yourself.
If that happens on occasion, your pelvic floor can handle the burden.
But its all too easy for this tendency to get ingrained in your daily life.
(Looking for more specific intel?
Pop over to our full guide onhow to breathe during any bang out of workoutfor the best result.)
You grin and bear it through painful sex.
Its a protective mechanism, she explains: Those muscles are bracing for impact.
But the preemptive gripping just winds up making sex (particularly penetration) evenmorepainful, she says.
Ultimately, you also owe it to yourself to see a doc ifpain during or after sexis your norm.
You constantly do Kegels.
I thought Kegels were good for your pelvic floor?
!I can practically hear you thinking.
And yes, that is true for plenty of people in a variety of circumstances.
On the topic of dosage, its certainly possible to overdo it.
Trying to squeeze an already-clenched pelvis can just make the tightness and tension worse.
In this scenario, its also a good idea to see a pelvic floor physical therapist for support.
(you might ask your ob-gyn for a referral or use thiscredible PT locatorto find one near you.)
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