Do your pelvic floor muscles tighten up after your monthlies?

[tracyk]

My pelvic floor muscles are a disgrace - sheer lazieness has meant no exercises and consequently I have to wear tena lady for gym classes etc.
But for the 2 weeks after my period - I don't need to wear them - it grdually gets worse as the month goes on - till by week 4 I need 2 a day.
I didn't know if the muscles tightened up and then loosened off - or if the uterus filling with blood was pushing on something??
Any ideas?

Your uterus when you aren't pregnant is the size of a walnut so it's unlikely to make a difference that way, but water retention and a high oestrogen peak can make you wee more so that's more likely to be it. Have you one of those kegel machine wotsits you get that you use to exercise your PF???

I've oft thought of getting one - do they work?

is anybody reading this thread without exercising their lady muscles?

I'm clenching away

squeezing lol

Hello

It's probably your hormonal cycle that's making the difference. Hormones have a massive part to play in continence (something to do with the level of oestrogen in your body) which is why lots of women find the problem worse during breastfeeding and the menopause. I'm usually fine until a couple of days before my period, when my hormones change.

HTH

PS - do your exercises! If you can focus on it every day for six weeks, you'll probably find you don't need the pads any more. Def worth the effort.