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Mum’s The Word – What Your Mother Would Rather Not Tell You
Copyright © 2005 Dawn M. Olsen. All Rights reserved This ArticleMay be Reprinted in it’s entirety provided the resource box isleft intact with an active “clickable” link.Let’s talk frankly, but sincerely, about what happens to yourvagina and surrounding feminine parts during menopause. Thereare two key changes in the body that, for many women, cause avariety of sexual problems, including inability to properlylubricate, pain or discomfort during intercourse, increasedurinary tract infections, and for some, urine leakage,especially when laughing, sneezing, or crying.Not too pleasant, any way you look at it, is it? All thishappens for two reasons: your body isn’t producing as much ofits feminine hormones as it once was, causing you to loselubrication. Secondly, as you grow older, your muscles start tothin, including the muscles making up the walls of your vagina. Fortunately, choosing diets rich in Vitamin E and soy productsseems, for most women, to keep your muscles strong. In addition,pelvic exercises known as Kegels will strengthen your muscles,helping you to maintain a healthy and well-lubricated vagina.Kegels are deceptively simple to perform, and you can oftenexercise your pelvic muscles at the checkout line at the grocerystore, while watching television, or while holding aconversation with someone – once you know what you’re doing, noone will know!To perform Kegels, imagine you’re trying to stop your urine inmid-stream (or better, the next time you go to the toilet, goahead and try it!). The muscles you engage in doing so are yourpelvic muscles, and these are the muscles that you’re aiming toexercise. The exercises themselves are as simple as flexing andrelaxing your leg or arm muscles. Over a count of four, slowlytighten these muscles, making sure you’re mimicking the actionof trying to stop urinating and not engaging your abdominals,and hold the muscles tightened for a few seconds. Then, in a slow and controlled motion, over the same count offour, relax these muscles. Do several sets of slow flexing andreleasing, followed by repetitions where you flex and releasethe muscles as quickly as possible. Repeat this several times aday, whenever you think of it, and as the muscles grow stronger,increase the length of time you hold the muscles tight. Rememberto keep breathing deeply and regularly throughout – this shouldnot be a strenuous workout! Remember to exercise your Kegels as often as possible, and don’tbe too modest or embarrassed to share the tip with others!
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