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Cystitis, Bladder & UTI's

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How long before Kegels start to help?

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  3011.1
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  diet-pepsi-addict
date:
  Oct-28 11:10 am
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I've been struggling with peeing a little bit when I laugh or cough, which has gotten worse since the birth of my last child.  I do Kegels, but not every day.  If I start doing them regularly, several times a day, how long before they will start to help? 
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How long before Kegels start to help?

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  3011.2 in response to 3011.1
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  cl-thebuglady2  Member Icon
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  diet-pepsi-addict
date:
  Oct-29 12:18 am
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Lilly;

Good question!  Kegel's exercises should be done 2 times daily for a count of 4 each time.  You want to squeeze just the pelvic floor muscles not your theigh muscles and it will take some practice to do just the pelvic floor ones.  At first you may not be able to hold them tight for a count of 4.

Now for your question it will take from 8 to 12 weeks of regular exercise for you to notice a difference.  So it is better for you to start now while you have a minor problem than to wait until later when the situation has grown more difficult for you to manage.

Hope this helps and please continue to come to our board to chat with us.

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How long before Kegels start to help?

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  3011.3 in response to 3011.1
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  dr_rogers  Member Icon
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  diet-pepsi-addict
date:
  Nov-4 9:10 am
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It sounds as though you have developed stress urinary incontinence, or the coughing, laughing, sneezing kind of incontinence.  This type of incontinence occurs because the urethral sphincter is not strong enough to hold in urine when abdominal pressure increases.  The urethra is the tube that travels from your bladder to the outside.  Kegels, or pelvic floor exercises, help to strengthen the urethra as well as the pelvic floor which supports the urethra.  You should see improvement in symptoms with regular performance of pelvic floor exercises within three to four weeks after starting them.  Studies have shown that even performing as few as 30-40  Kegels daily will improve most women’s symptoms.  Regardless of what other therapies you choose to pursue, pelvic floor exercises will help as well.  In addition, Kegel exercises also treats  overactive bladder symptoms; doing some squeezes when you have a strong urge to urinate will help to suppress that urge.  You can ask your provider to check if you are performing Kegel exercises properly at the time of your next pelvic exam.

Rebecca Rogers, MD

Urogynecology
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