Increasing sexual drive through kegel exercise

MANILA, Philippines - You do crunches and sit-ups for your abs, jogging for cardio, push-ups for your deltoids, but what have you done lately to strengthen the other muscles of your body?

Dr. Arnold Kegel, a gynecologist from California first discussed the importance of Kegel exercises in 1948. According to him, kegels are strength-building exercises that contract, flex and release the pubococcygeus (PC) muscles of the pelvic floor. PC muscles support pelvic organs such as the urethra, bladder, and bowel.

Kegel exercises (also known as pelvic floor exercises) have been largely promoted by physicians to their female patients in an effort to aid with stress incontinence following childbirth.  But men also have pelvic floors, so why not use the same exercise to get the same health benefits too?

Do you know that aside from stress and urge incontinence, Kegel exercise may also help alleviate  erectile dysfunction, delay premature ejaculation, and perhaps even boost libido?

Erectile dysfunction
A study published in 2005 by BJU International suggests that pelvic floor exercises should be considered as a first-line approach for men seeking long-term solution of their erectile dysfunction. This is after 40 percent of those who had suffered from erectile dysfunction practiced pelvic floor muscle exercises and had regained normal erectile function.

Another study published in the December 2009 issue of the journal Therapeutic Advances in Urology also claimed that pelvic exercises increase erectile responsiveness.

Premature ejaculation
Training the PC muscles can help men by enhancing their ability to hold back from ejaculating at the very last minute by squeezing the PC muscles. This can be called as the “reverse kegel” or the "pulling kegel”---Hold the PC muscle until your urge for ejaculation goes away, and then, release it.  With time and practice, your PC muscle becomes strong enough to endure the pressure of ejaculation, and this will help in preventing premature ejaculation. According to Dr. Neil Baum, a urologist, Kegel can also help harder erections that last longer, thanks to the improvement of penile blood flow.

Increase libido
The Kegel exercise can help increase your sex drive by creating sexual energy flow and increasing muscle tone in the pelvic floor. When doing kegel exercise, blood circulation in genitals is improved, which makes you more aroused.

Whoever said that kegel exercise is just for the urethra, bladder, and bowel…think again.