Did you know that one third of American woman have pelvic floor dysfunction or disorders?
Some common symptoms include painful sex, prolapse, urinary incontinence, chronic UTI’s, painful urination, pain in lower back with no known cause, IBS and many others.
The possible causes of pelvic floor dysfunction are, injury or strain, sitting for standing for too long, poor posture, pushing out urine or bowl movements (straining), muscle imbalance (too tight or too weak) and obesity.
Sedentary lifestyles, poor diet and stress also can contribute to pelvic floor disorders.
What is the pelvic floor and why is it so important for increasing fertility?
The Pelvic Floor muscles consist of layers of muscles that function to support the pelvic floor organs.
The organs supported include: bladder, uterus, vagina, small bowel and rectum.
These muscles also assist with urination and bowel movements, help sexual performance (orgasm), stabilize connecting joint and act as a lymphatic pump or pelvis.
If a woman has any symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction there is less blood circulating to sex organs, lymphatic fluid can not properly move out waste products and there is less chance for enjoying sex and orgasm-which helps with fertility.
Increasing chances of fertility and preparing our bodies for pregnancy go hand in hand. We can increase fertility, but we also want to create a womb where the new baby will thrive, grow and be nourished.
If there is tension or congestion in the connective tissues/muscles, the organs nestled in the pelvis are affected and are not properly nourished.
This is why it is so important to measure all areas of your life, like stress, diet and lifestyle.
Constant worry, stress and anxiety from invasive therapies, IVF’s, IUI’s and miscarriages can put too much stress on the pelvic floor and can create physical and energetic blockages for future healthy pregnancy.
The power of your breath
Restorative Yoga postures help us breathe properly (thoracic vs. diaphragmatic). Learn more about fertility yoga and proper breathing techniques in our AM/PM Fertility Yoga Series. Download your FREE fertility yoga video.
During PROPER breathing, the pelvic floor moves in coordination with the diaphragm.
That is why we place our hands on the pelvis, to help visualize the breath moving into that space. We want to coordinate the diaphragm with the pelvic floor.
Pelvic Floor Exercise
Here is a quick exercise:
- Place your hands in the front of your pubic bone.
- Inhale and feel the breath move down to the diaphragm.
- Visualize the pelvic floor expanding or lengthening.
- On your exhale, gently press your hands in an upward motion.
- The Pelvic Floor should now contract in an upward direction.
- This will help visualize the movement of the pelvic floor.
- Practice 10 rounds of breath about 2-3 times a day.
Time to start exploring!
There is absolutely no shame in exploring this area.
After all, we let our doctors, practitioners and partners go “down there”. It is time for YOU to connect.
Practicing yoga daily can help reduce stress, tone and restore pelvic floor health, correct posture, increase blood circulation, increase mind-body connection, stretch tight connective tissue and help move out waste products from the body.
Yoga is the perfect fit for pelvic floor health!
Learn more in our AM/PM Fertility Yoga Series here.
Thanks to Amanda Stevenson for her guest blog. Amanda is the certified yoga instructor for our Fertility Yoga Series.
Sarah Clark empowers couples to discover how lifestyle and diet can dramatically impact their chances of conceiving. She was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure at 28 and had both her kids with donor eggs. Not until years later did she discover that the root cause of her infertility was a food intolerance. Join the Free Fab Fertile Support Group on Facebook for mini-challenges, motivation and inspiration!
