The Link Between Pelvic Floor Muscles and Sexual Satisfaction

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by Emily Tran

By PHRC Admin

The human body is an intricate masterpiece, and within its depths lies a source of immense pleasure and connection: the pelvic floor muscles. Often overlooked or underestimated, these muscles play a vital role in sexual arousal and orgasm. In this blog post, we will explore the wonders of the pelvic floor muscles and how understanding and harnessing their power can enhance your pleasure journey.

Understanding the Pelvic Floor:

The pelvic floor is a network of muscles that forms the base of the pelvis. It supports the pelvic organs, including the bladder, uterus, and rectum. However, its significance extends far beyond structural support. During sexual arousal and orgasm, the pelvic floor muscles come alive, creating a symphony of sensations that can take your pleasure to new heights.

The Role of Pelvic Floor Muscles in Orgasm:

  1. Pubococcygeus (PC) and Iliococcygeus Muscles: Located from the pubic bone to the tailbone and rim of the pelvic to the tailbone (respectively), these muscles are key players in orgasmic bliss. As arousal intensifies, these muscles contract rhythmically during orgasm, adding depth and intensity to the experience. Strengthening and relaxing these muscles through exercises like pelvic floor contractions can enhance their responsiveness and amplify pleasure.
  2. Bulbospongiosus Muscle:The bulbospongiosus muscle surrounds the vaginal opening and goes up to the base of the clitoris. It also travels from the perineum to  the base of the penis. During orgasm, it contracts, contributing to the pleasurable contractions and adding an extra dimension of ecstasy. It also helps to narrow the urethra, like a sphincter, to prevent incontinence.
  3. Ischiocavernosus Muscle: Residing along the sides of the pelvic floor, the ischiocavernosus muscle plays a multifaceted role. It helps maintain penile and clitoral erections and  it contributes to the rhythmic contractions experienced during orgasm.
  4. Puborectalis Muscle: While primarily involved in maintaining bowel control, the puborectalis muscle can also make its presence known during orgasm. Involuntary contractions can enhance pleasure and intensify the overall experience.

Embracing Your Pleasure:

Exploring and understanding your own body is a deeply personal and empowering journey. Here are some tips to help you embrace the power of your pelvic floor muscles and enhance your pleasure:

 

  1. Pelvic Floor Exercises: Engaging in pelvic floor exercises can help strengthen and relax these muscles. We recommend checking in with your pelvic floor physical therapist to be evaluated and prescribed exercises specific to the state of your pelvic floor.
  2. Mind-Body Connection: Developing a strong mind-body connection can heighten sensitivity and pleasure. Practice mindfulness and focus on sensations during intimate moments. Pay attention to how your pelvic floor muscles respond and learn to engage and relax them consciously.
  3. Communication and Exploration: Open communication with your partner(s) about desires, boundaries, and preferences can create a supportive and enriching sexual experience. Explore different positions, techniques, and sensations together to discover what works best for you. Working with a Sex Therapist can help couples learn how to do this better!

The pelvic floor muscles hold incredible potential for pleasure and connection. By understanding their role and engaging in exercises (as appropriate per your specific pelvic floor health) and harnessing their power, you can embark on a transformative pleasure journey. Remember, everyone’s experience is unique, so take the time to explore and celebrate your body’s capacity for pleasure. Embrace the power of your pelvic floor muscles, and let them guide you to new heights of ecstasy and fulfillment.

 

Sources:

  • Mayo Clinic: Kegel Exercises for Men: Understand the Benefits
  • Healthline: How to Do Kegel Exercises for Men
  • Healthline: Pelvic Floor Muscles: Anatomy, Function, and Exercises

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FAQ

What are pelvic floor muscles?

The pelvic floor muscles are a group of muscles that run from the coccyx to the pubic bone. They are part of the core, helping to support our entire body as well as providing support for the bowel, bladder and uterus. These muscles help us maintain bowel and bladder control and are involved in sexual pleasure and orgasm. The technical name of the pelvic floor muscles is the Levator Ani muscle group. The pudendal nerve, the levator ani nerve, and branches from the S2 – S4 nerve roots innervate the pelvic floor muscles. They are under voluntary and autonomic control, which is a unique feature only they possess compared to other muscle groups.

What is pelvic floor physical therapy?

Pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialized area of physical therapy. Currently, physical therapists need advanced post-graduate education to be able to help people with pelvic floor dysfunction because pelvic floor disorders are not yet being taught in standard physical therapy curricula. The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center provides extensive training for our staff because we recognize the limitations of physical therapy education in this unique area.

What happens at pelvic floor therapy?

During an evaluation for pelvic floor dysfunction the physical therapist will take a detailed history. Following the history the physical therapist will leave the room to allow the patient to change and drape themselves. The physical therapist will return to the room and using gloved hands will perform an external and internal manual assessment of the pelvic floor and girdle muscles. The physical therapist will once again leave the room and allow the patient to dress. Following the manual examination there may also be an examination of strength, motor control, and overall biomechanics and neuromuscular control. The physical therapist will then communicate the findings to the patient and together with their patient they establish an assessment, short term and long term goals and a treatment plan. Typically people with pelvic floor dysfunction are seen one time per week for one hour for varying amounts of time based on the severity and chronicity of the disease. A home exercise program will be established and the physical therapist will help coordinate other providers on the treatment team. Typically patients are seen for 3 months to a year.

What is pudendal neuralgia and how is it treated?

Pudendal Neuralgia is a clinical diagnosis that means pain in the sensory distribution of the pudendal nerve. The pudendal nerve is a mixed nerve that exits the S2 – S4 sacral nerve roots, we have a right and left pudendal nerve and each side has three main trunks: the dorsal branch, the perineal branch, and the inferior rectal branch. The branches supply sensation to the clitoris/penis, labia/scrotum, perineum, anus, the distal ⅓ of the urethra and rectum, and the vulva and vestibule. The nerve branches also control the pelvic floor muscles. The pudendal nerve follows a tortuous path through the pelvic floor and girdle, leaving it vulnerable to compression and tension injuries at various points along its path.

Pudendal Neuralgia occurs when the nerve is unable to slide, glide and move normally and as a result, people experience pain in some or all of the above-mentioned areas. Pelvic floor physical therapy plays a crucial role in identifying the mechanical impairments that are affecting the nerve. The physical therapy treatment plan is designed to restore normal neural function. Patients with pudendal neuralgia require pelvic floor physical therapy and may also benefit from medical management that includes pharmaceuticals and procedures such as pudendal nerve blocks or botox injections.

What is interstitial cystitis and how is it treated?

Interstitial Cystitis is a clinical diagnosis characterized by irritative bladder symptoms such as urinary urgency, frequency, and hesitancy in the absence of infection. Research has shown the majority of patients who meet the clinical definition have pelvic floor dysfunction and myalgia. Therefore, the American Urologic Association recommends pelvic floor physical therapy as first-line treatment for Interstitial Cystitis. Patients will benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy and may also benefit from pharmacologic management or medical procedures such as bladder instillations.

Who is the Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Team?

The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center was founded by Elizabeth Akincilar and Stephanie Prendergast in 2006, they have been treating people with pelvic floor disorders since 2001. They were trained and mentored by a medical doctor and quickly became experts in treating pelvic floor disorders. They began creating courses and sharing their knowledge around the world. They expanded to 11 locations in the United States and developed a residency style training program for their employees with ongoing weekly mentoring. The physical therapists who work at PHRC have undergone more training than the majority of pelvic floor physical therapists and as a result offer efficient and high quality care.

How many years of experience do we have?

Stephanie and Liz have 24 years of experience and help each and every team member become an expert in the field through their training and mentoring program.

Why PHRC versus anyone else?

PHRC is unique because of the specific focus on pelvic floor disorders and the leadership at our company. We are constantly lecturing, teaching, and staying ahead of the curve with our connections to medical experts and emerging experts. As a result, we are able to efficiently and effectively help our patients restore their pelvic health.

Do we treat men for pelvic floor therapy?

The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center is unique in that the Cofounders have always treated people of all genders and therefore have trained the team members and staff the same way. Many pelvic floor physical therapists focus solely on people with vulvas, this is not the case here.

Do I need pelvic floor therapy forever?

The majority of people with pelvic floor dysfunction will undergo pelvic floor physical therapy for a set amount of time based on their goals. Every 6 -8 weeks goals will be re-established based on the physical improvements and remaining physical impairments. Most patients will achieve their goals in 3 – 6 months. If there are complicating medical or untreated comorbidities some patients will be in therapy longer.