Where is my Pelvic Floor?!

I still remember the first time I heard “do your kegels at a stoplight while you’re driving!” It was assumed that everyone was doing these, but the reasons were never given, and actually how to do them wasn’t described. So, as a teenager, (and even into college!) I smiled and nodded like I knew what they were talking about. If this sounds familiar, you’re definitely not alone. At nearly every workshop or class I teach, someone asks “What is the pelvic floor exactly?!”

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, three layers of them to be exact, that support the bottom of the pelvis bones.

Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments and tissues that stretch like a hammock across the bottom of your pelvis. Think of it as the body's built-in support team - holding up important organs like your bladder, uterus (or prostate) and bowels. These muscles also help control when you go to the bathroom, support your core, and even play a role in intimacy and posture. They are located near a large network of lymph nodes, so they play a role in circulation as well, acting like a sump pump.

You can't see your pelvic floor, but you can feel it working. Try gently stopping the flow of urine midstream (just once for awareness) - those are your pelvic floor muscles contracting. This hidden hero does a lot of heavy lifting.

These events can change the way your pelvic floor works:

Pregnancy

Childbirth

Menopause

Chronic coughing

Too much sitting

Trauma or injury

Pain

Learning to connect with that part of the body felt oddly empowering. The first time I actually felt those muscles working was like finding a part of myself I didn't even know I had.   

Call to Action:

If you're not sure where to begin or if things don't feel quite right, reach out to a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist. Cheers!