Myth Busting in Pelvic Health

Over the past few years of treating pelvic dysfunctions in my clients, I have learned of many common beliefs that people hold as fact to be far from the truth. So today, I am here to debunk these myths.

1. “I just have a really small bladder.” It is true that bladder size varies, but in general, most people should be able to hold 1-2 cups of fluid in their bladder. You may find yourself urinating frequently, more than your friends, but it is usually not because your bladder is “small.” The underlying reason for urinary frequency is likely due to poor habits like going to the potty “just in case” or drinking fluids that irritate your bladder – carbonation, alcohol, caffeine.

2. “I do Kegels every time I pee so my pelvic floor is super strong.” If you are trying to figure out how to use the muscles around your pelvic floor, this is ok to do, but not all the time! If you always contract your muscles when you urinate, then you will mess up the built-in system that your body has in place to actually help you pee. So, as a rule, doing Kegels when you pee is bad and will not make you “super strong.”

3. “I do Kegels at every red light to help my sex life, but I still have pain with intercourse.” So, Kegels are good. They are a type of strengthening exercise for the muscles around your vagina, urethra, and anus. Often, if you are having pain, it’s not just because of weakness. It is usually because the muscles are tight. They may not even be weak. So, if you keep doing Kegels, you may actually make things worse. You probably need stretching. A Pelvic Health Physical Therapist can help you learn what to do and give you an exact program to fit your needs and make sex great.

So, that’s just 3 myths, but there are so many more floating around out there. Before you believe just anything, make sure you check the source and if you are still unsure if it is believable, by all means, ask a healthcare provider.