While some women wonder, “What’s the big deal with pelvic health?” other women worry over the question, “What’s up down there?” Women at both ends of the spectrum are wondering whether pelvic health is a problem that should concern them or not. The answer? Yes. Absolutely. Without a doubt.
You may be surprised, but women’s pelvic health isn’t just about women’s pelvic health. Your pelvic health is actually linked to your overall level of health at all levels–physical, mental, and emotional. If you don’t have pelvic health, you are putting your overall health on the line. That is why in this article we give you 11 reasons you might want to focus on your pelvic health. You may be surprised at how much your pelvic health affects the rest of your life!
1. Healthy habits for your pelvic floor make you healthier all over
Surprise, surprise! The habits that lead to pelvic health are also the habits to contribute to your general health. Examples include weight loss, smoking cessation, moderating drinking, and maintaining healthy digestion to avoid constipation.
2. Having pelvic health means you can be social, and studies show that being social is healthy
According to a feature article by WebMD–read the full article HERE, being social is healthy for you:
“Conducted by the Centre for Ageing Studies at Flinders University, the study followed nearly 1,500 older people for 10 years. It found that those who had a large network of friends outlived those with the fewest friends by 22%.”
Yet, if you are afraid to go out with friends because you might experience urinary urgency or a leakage accident, how can you be social? That alone is a good reason to focus on pelvic health!
3. Good pelvic health may mean a return to sex, which is also good for you
A surprisingly large percentage of women with urinary incontinence stop having sex because they leak urine during intimacy. Yet good sex is good for you. Studies show that women with higher sexual satisfaction also report a higher sense of life purpose. Sexually satisfied women are also reported to be happier than unsatisfied women, and women who look for ways to have a better sex life tend to get what they seek. So if good sex is good for you, and good pelvic health leads to good sex, focusing on your pelvic health becomes pretty important, right?
4. Pelvic health isn’t difficult to achieve even if you currently have pelvic issues
The Agency of Healthcare Research and Policy reports that for 8 out of 10 women with urinary incontinence, symptoms can be improved. Clinically, we have seen that many women can even cure their symptoms. While you may find that discussing your symptoms of poor pelvic health is embarrassing, you will probably be surprised at the ease of the solutions your medical professional can offer you. If you take the first step–seeking help–which is the most difficult, you’ll find the rest to be an easy slide!
5. Humiliation isn’t healthy!
This one doesn’t really need an explanation, does it? If you are constantly humiliated by leakage accidents, the fear of a leakage accident, the ever-present search for restrooms, and the bother of urinary urgency, then you’ve got a lot on your mind… none of which is relaxing, healthy, or contributing to your happiness.
6. Insomnia from nocturia (getting up to go at night) isn’t healthy
Getting a solid chunk of sleep each night is important to many factors of health, including memory, longevity, decreased chronic inflammation, and much more (read the full article HERE).
7. There are lots of approaches to try before going “under the knife”
One of the reasons women with urinary incontinence don’t seek help is that they are afraid their doctor will suggest surgery–right away. This simply isn’t true for most women, especially if they seek help as soon as the first symptoms appear. There are many conservative therapies to assist women with symptoms of poor pelvic health, including pelvic floor retraining (at home or with the help of a physical therapist), lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation, diet modification, timed fluid intake, weight loss, acupuncture, and more. Read a full list in THIS BOOK.
8. If you opt for surgery, success rates are high
If you are one of the women for whom surgery is the best option, you will be relieved to hear that most surgeries for women’s pelvic health have a very high success rate, and the majority are minimally-invasive. For a discussion about the most common surgeries related to women’s pelvic health, read the article HERE.
9. Your pelvic muscles count, too, even if they are out of sight!
The old adage “out of sight, out of mind” is very true when it comes to women’s pelvic health. Because women can’t see their pelvic muscles the way they can see their biceps, they tend to think they are fit all over, even if their pelvic muscles are not! However, you can develop healthy pelvic floor muscles. You just need to get into the Kegel habit. Read about how to gain the necessary knowledge, skill, and desire HERE.
10. Poor pelvic health is not normal at any age
So many women simply accept urinary urgency, leakage, or frequency as they age, thinking, “Oh, it’s just a normal part of aging.” Guess what? It isn’t! Poor pelvic health is not normal at any age. If you experience symptoms of urinary incontinence or other signs of poor pelvic health, get help now. Not sure about the state of your pelvic health? Read these stories to find out more–click HERE.
11. You will be a happier woman
Healthy women are happy women. It is really as simple as that! If poor pelvic health is keeping you from being happy, check out the book that may change your life HERE.
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