APOPS             

SQUEEZE PLEASE CAMPAIGN

Squeeze Please is a campaign to promote PC muscle contraction both from an exercise perspective and from a general  "when the thought occurs to you just squeeze" perspective. Strenghening the PC muscle can benefit women's pelvic floor health, assisting with aspects of childbirth, post-partum recooperation, pelvic organ prolapse prevention and/or maintenance, and sexual pleasure. 

Women often hear conflicting information about whether or not Kegel exercises help with pelvic organ prolapse; it can be confusing and disheartening for those trying to find ways to help themselves achieve better pelvic floor health. At APOPS, we believe doing Kegel exercises is of benefit to women both prior to pelvic floor health concerns as well as after problems are occurring; it is one of many treatment options of benefit to women trying to avoid surgery as well as a useful tool for women post-surgery for maintenance of repairs completed.

Recognition of the PC muscle, it's sensation, it's location, it's purpose, is step one. Ideally women should be introduced to this information at their first pelvic exam but often are not; the time restrictions physicians have for examination unfortunately leave little time for general topics of discussion.

The pubococcygeus muscle or PC muscle is a trampoline-like muscle that stretches from the pubic bone to the coccyx (tail bone) forming the floor of the pelvic cavity and supporting the pelvic organs. This muscle group surrounds the internal genitalia. It is part of the levator ani group of muscles, controls urine flow, and aids in childbirth. The PC muscles are also involved in orgasm and doing regular exercises to strengthen the PC muscle (Kegel exercises) can increase sexual sensation.