How successful are pelvic floor exercises?
The originator of pelvic floor exercises, Kegel, found that patients with pure stress incontinence were often much improved within eight weeks. If you have severe problems it could take longer so patience and perseverance may be worthwhile. More recent studies suggest success in about 70% of patients with 40% being cured. Failures occur mostly with those patients who do not comply with the treatment regimen.
Almost everything we undertake in life involves risks as well as benefits. There is an element of risk even when going on holiday. There is no medicine or surgical procedure that is without an element of risk. Pelvic floor exercises are absolutely safe. With perseverance, there is likely to be benefit. Pelvic floor exercises commenced after childbirth may reduce problems in later life and there is advantage in seeking advice from a physiotherapist specialising in women's health around this time. The physiotherapist can ensure that you are contracting your pelvic floor correctly by checking with an internal examination. If your are a new mother, pelvic floor exercises can be recommended every time you are feeding or changing your baby. Others may find it useful to have a prompt such as every time they speak on the telephone.
Please click on the required question.
- 1 How is urine produced?
- 2 What is cystitis?
- 3 How prevalent is cystitis?
- 4 What is honeymoon cystitis?
- 5 What are Frequency and nocturia?
- 6 How prevalent are Frequency and nocturia?
- 7 What is urinary incontinence?
- 8 What is stress incontinence of urine?
- 9 What is urgency, urge incontinence and the urge syndrome?
- 10 What causes stress and urge incontinence?
- 11 What is dribbling incontinence?
- 12 How prevalent is urinary incontinence?
- 13 What is the urethral syndrome?
- 14 How can I record my bladder problems and monitor the effects of treatment?
- 15 What simple measures are available to reduce urinary incontinence?
- 16 What are pelvic floor exercises?
- 17 How successful are pelvic floor exercises?
- 18 What is bladder training?
- 19 How effective is bladder training?
- 20 Are there any alternatives to bladder training for urgency symptoms?
- 21 If simple measures do not suffice, what else is available for the treatment of urinary stress incontinence?
- 22 What are urodynamic studies?
- 23 Where can I obtain further information about bladder problems?
- 24 Support Groups.
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This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.
I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.
