Your Healthiest Relationship
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
Pelvic Floor Workouts That Support Better Sex
Every person has a pelvic floor, a sling of muscles connecting the pubic bone and the tailbone, and it's connected to so many health functions, including bowel and bladder control, supporting the pelvic organs, and contributing to optimum sexual health. And with respect to that last factor, there are specific ways to set yourself up for success—namely with pelvic floor workouts for better sex.
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
Why Your Pelvic Floor Muscles Don’t Always Benefit From Kegels
According to a Pelvic Floor Therapist
If you have a vagina, you’ve probably been told to “do your Kegels” as if the exercise is comparable to taking your daily vitamin or brushing your teeth.
Whether you saw it on Sex And The City, Oprah, or even TikTok—in pop culture, Kegels are widely considered as beneficial as daily push-ups or hamstring stretches. The thing is, Kegels aren’t like brushing your teeth: not everyone needs to do them. Sometimes they can even cause more harm to your pelvic floor muscles than good, according to Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, owner of Femina Physical Therapy in Los Angeles.
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
Getting Down With the Pelvic Floor
—And Getting Serious About Caring for It.
Thanks to a series of norm-shattering cultural movements—beginning with #MeToo and body positivity and continuing with the pleasure revolution—elements of sexual and reproductive health are being discussed openly like never before. Add to this major societal shift a pandemic that turned our attention to physical well-being in new and sex-plorative ways, and the stage is set for the next show of taboo-busting: The pelvic floor, that sling of muscles running from the pubic bone to the tailbone, is finally getting the attention it deserves. And in 2022, we’ll see pelvic floor health incorporated more readily into at-home wellness and in-clinic health care at all stages of life.
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
Experts Chime in on 7 Golden Rules for a Healthier Pee
They say another year older, another year wiser.
But when it comes to how to pee correctly, it seems we're all perpetual students of Water Closet 101. (Case in point: Every public bathroom, ever.) Over the years at Well+Good, we've collected an endless stream of tips for achieving what some call "the perfect pee"—and (you're welcome) we've finally collected them all in once place.
Below, you'll find the hottest advice from urologists and pelvic floor therapists nationwide about being number one at going (I hate myself) number one. You'll learn why you should stop power peeing, whether or not it's actually necessary to squat in public restrooms, and the truth about relieving yourself in the shower. Mentally prepare yourself, because there's sure to be some reality-shaking realizations ahead.
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
If Your Pelvic Floor Is Too Tight, There Are Answers
Even if you're familiar with the pelvic floor muscles, you might be surprised to know how important they are. The pelvic floor, which sits between the tailbone and pubic bone, resembles a hammock that supports your uterus (if you have one), bladder, and rectum, according to the Mayo Clinic. More specifically, the pelvic floor controls bladder and rectal urges, keeps your pelvic organs in place, assists sexual function, and helps support your core and spine, says Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, doctor of physical therapy, and owner of Femina Physical Therapy in Los Angeles. So when the pelvic floor muscles become too loose or too tight, it can have a significant impact on your daily life.
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
‘I’m a Pelvic-Floor Therapist, and This Is Why You Should Not Stop Your Flow Mid-Pee’
There's a strong chance someone in your life has either done or suggested Kegel exercises to you. You may have stumbled on Kegel advice through platforms like this TikTok. Or maybe you've googled Kegel exercises because you're dealing with bladder leakage. It can seem like Kegel exercise advice is everywhere, but there's a lot about this seemingly simple exercise that people do wrong. So, if you've heard you should do Kegels while peeing to assess your pelvic floor prowess, it is not the sagest advice.
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
Can CBD Suppositories Relieve Pelvic-Floor Pain?
And Even Allow You to Finally Experience Pleasure?
As someone with a hypertonic pelvic floor, my pelvic-floor muscles are in a near-constant state of contraction. Think: tight as a closed fist. This situation can make penetrative play painful if not impossible—that is, unless I coax my pelvic-floor muscles into submission ahead of time.
Historically, I’ve been able to do just that with a combination of meditation, external genital masturbation, and breathing exercises. But I recently discovered Foria’s Relief Suppositories with CBD ($50), and they quickly became a mainstay component of my pre-penetrative sex ritual.
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 1788 Views
Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
Unless you have a medical kink or are role-playing nurse and patient, the doctor’s office and bedroom probably function as separate, non-interacting entities. But for some people who experience pelvic or sexual pain, vaginal dilators blend the experience of the two.
Below, two pelvic-floor therapists explain the purpose of these medical tools, as well as how to determine if they may be useful for your personal pelvic-floor issues or sexual pain.