Editing Kegel exercise (section)

==Health effects==
=== Women ===
Factors such as [[pregnancy]], [[childbirth]], aging, and being [[overweight]] often weaken the pelvic muscles.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/pelvic-floor|title=Pelvic floor|last=Services|first=Department of Health & Human|access-date=2018-02-21|archive-date=2018-02-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222043950/https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/pelvic-floor|url-status=live}}</ref> This can be assessed by either digital examination of vaginal pressure or using a Kegel [[perineometer]]. Kegel exercises are useful in regaining pelvic floor muscle strength in such cases.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mentor |first=Physio |date=2022-10-15 |title=Kegel Exercises – Pelvic Floor Muscles Strengthening |url=https://www.physiomentor.co/kegel-exercises/ |access-date=2022-10-16 |website=Physiomentor |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-10-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015114643/https://www.physiomentor.co/kegel-exercises/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The symptoms of [[Prolapse#Pelvic floor prolapse|prolapse]] and its severity can be decreased with pelvic floor exercises.<ref name="pmid22161382">{{cite journal |vauthors=Hagen S, Stark D |title=Conservative prevention and management of pelvic organ prolapse in women |journal=Cochrane Database Syst Rev |volume=12 |issue= 12|pages=CD003882 |year=2011 |pmid=22161382 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD003882.pub4}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-control-problems-women/cystocele-prolapsed-bladder|title=Cystocele (Prolapsed Bladder) {{!}} NIDDK|work=National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases|access-date=2017-12-02|archive-date=2017-10-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004190143/https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-control-problems-women/cystocele-prolapsed-bladder|url-status=live}}</ref> Effectiveness can be improved with feedback on how to do the exercises.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Herderschee |first1=R |last2=Hay-Smith |first2=EJ |author-link2=Jean Hay-Smith |last3=Herbison |first3=GP |last4=Roovers |first4=JP |last5=Heineman |first5=MJ |date=6 July 2011 |title=Feedback or biofeedback to augment pelvic floor muscle training for urinary incontinence in women. |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |issue=7 |pages=CD009252 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD009252 |pmid=21735442}}</ref>

=== Men ===
Kegel exercises can train the perineal muscles by increasing the oxygen supply and the strength of those muscles.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last1=Puppo |first1=Vincenzo|last2=Puppo|first2=Giulia|date=January 2016 |title=Comprehensive review of the anatomy and physiology of male ejaculation: Premature ejaculation is not a disease: Anatomy and Physiology of Ejaculation |journal=Clinical Anatomy |volume=29|issue=1|pages=111–119|doi=10.1002/ca.22655|pmid=26457680|s2cid=9213013}}</ref> The names of the perineal muscles are: [[Ischiocavernosus muscle|ischiocavernosus]] (erection), [[Bulbospongiosus muscle|bulbocavernosus]] (ejaculation), external sphincter of the anus, striated [[Urethral sphincters|urethral sphincter]], [[Transverse perineal muscles|transverse perineal]], levator of the prostate, and puborectalis.<ref name="Woodley2020">{{cite journal |last1=Woodley |first1=SJ |last2=Lawrenson |first2=P |last3=Boyle |first3=R |last4=Cody |first4=JD |last5=Mørkved |first5=S |last6=Kernohan |first6=A |last7=Hay-Smith |first7=EJC |title=Pelvic floor muscle training for preventing and treating urinary and fecal incontinence in antenatal and postnatal women. |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |date=6 May 2020 |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=CD007471 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD007471.pub4 |pmid=32378735|pmc=7203602 }}</ref>

[[Premature ejaculation]] is defined as when male ejaculation occurs after less than one minute of penetration.<ref>{{Cite book |editor1-last=Goldstein |editor1-first=Sam |editor2-last=Naglieri |editor2-first=Jack A. |title=Encyclopedia of child behavior and development |date=2011|publisher=Springer |isbn=9780387790619 |location=[New York]|oclc=704395400}}</ref> The perineal muscles are involved in ejaculation when they are involuntarily contracted.<ref name=":2" /> The ischiocavernosus muscle is responsible for male erection, and the bulbocavernosus muscle is responsible for ejaculation. By actively contracting the perineal muscles with Kegel exercises regularly, strength and control of these muscles increase, possibly aiding in the avoidance of premature ejaculation.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last1=Puppo |first1=V. |last2=Abdulcadir |first2=J. |last3=Mannucci |first3=A. |last4=Catania |first4=L. |last5=Abdulcadir |first5=D. |date=April 2008 |title=T09-P-13 The importance of the Kegel exercises for the erection of the male and female erectile organs (male and female penis) |journal=Sexologies |volume=17 |pages=S136 |doi=10.1016/s1158-1360(08)72894-9 |issn=1158-1360}}</ref>

=== Urinary incontinence ===
Pelvic floor exercises (muscle training) can be included in conservative treatment approaches for women with [[urinary incontinence]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Dumoulin|first1=Chantale|last2=Cacciari|first2=Licia P.|last3=Hay-Smith|first3=E. Jean C.|date=2018-10-04|title=Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|volume=2018|issue=10|pages=CD005654|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD005654.pub4|issn=1469-493X|pmid=30288727 |pmc=6516955}}</ref> There is tentative evidence that [[biofeedback]] may give added benefit when used with pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT).<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Herderschee R, Hay-Smith EJ, Herbison GP, Roovers JP, Heineman MJ|date=6 July 2011|title=Feedback or biofeedback to augment pelvic floor muscle training for urinary incontinence in women.|journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |issue=7|pages=CD009252|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD009252|pmid=21735442}}</ref> There is no clear evidence that teaching pelvic floor exercises alters the risk of [[Stress incontinence|stress urinary incontinence]] in men that develop this condition post [[prostatectomy]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Anderson|first1=Coral A.|last2=Omar|first2=Muhammad Imran|last3=Campbell|first3=Susan E.|last4=Hunter|first4=Kathleen F.|last5=Cody|first5=June D.|last6=Glazener|first6=Cathryn M. A.|date=2015-01-20 |title=Conservative management for postprostatectomy urinary incontinence|journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|volume=1|issue=1 |pages=CD001843|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD001843.pub5|issn=1469-493X|pmid=25602133 |pmc=7025637|hdl=2164/6141}}</ref>

In pregnant women, antenatal PFMT probably helps prevent urinary continence during pregnancy and up to six months after giving birth but for pregnant women who already have incontinence, it is not clear if antenatal PFMT helps to reduce symptoms.<ref name="Woodley2020"/>

===Fecal incontinence===
In pregnancy, it is not yet clear if antenatal PFMT helps to prevent or treat [[fecal incontinence]].<ref name="Woodley2020"/>