1 | I Confess

I knew about the pelvic floor muscles.

Naturally, I had knowledge of them through my work. Where these muscles are, why they are necessary, and why they weaken. I've explained their importance and methods with Kegel exercise devices collected from around the world.

Perhaps that's true of everything. Until you experience it yourself, you don't understand it, and it doesn't become personal.

That "oh" feeling the moment you sneeze. The slight panic when you can't stop laughing.

After childbirth, for the first time, the term "pelvic floor muscles" became about my own body.

Even for me, working in Femtech, this was the case. So, to you who aren't concerned yet. And perhaps to you who are starting to feel a bit concerned. I want to write about this today.

2 | Where exactly are the pelvic floor muscles?

Even if you've heard the term "pelvic floor muscles," I imagine few people can actually visualize where they are.

They are located at the "base" of the pelvis. Literally, they are a group of muscles spread out like a hammock at the very bottom part of the pelvis.

They firmly support three vital organs for women from below: the bladder, uterus, and rectum.

You know where your arm or thigh muscles are, but even when you try to move your pelvic floor muscles, it's hard to tell if you're actually moving them. They are muscles that are "there but often unnoticed."

However, these muscles actually do quite a lot.

One muscle group does all of this, yet it's largely unnoticed. They work silently every day.

3 | We are not using them effectively today

Women of earlier generations naturally used their pelvic floor muscles in daily life. Squatting to clean, carrying heavy objects, using Japanese-style toilets. These actions implicitly engaged these muscles.

But how about today?

Sitting in front of a computer all day. Slouching while looking at a smartphone. Some days, not even stepping out of the house for remote work.

When you sit for long periods, your pelvis tends to tilt backward. If this posture continues, the pelvic floor muscles find it difficult to function properly, and they gradually become less conscious as they are not used.

With changes in our daily lives, opportunities to naturally use these muscles have decreased. For us living in the modern era, these muscles are in a place that we can only move if we consciously try.

4 | To those who think, "This doesn't concern me"

Many people might feel that urinary incontinence is "a problem for the elderly" or "a problem for women who have given birth."

However, the numbers indicate otherwise.

And many people, even if they realize they are experiencing urinary leakage, do not consult anyone.

They are concerned but can't talk about it. They don't know who to consult. They think it's not a big deal.

There are many such people around you. Perhaps even yourself.

5 | What I want those trying to conceive to know

The topic of pelvic floor muscles isn't just about urinary incontinence. It's a subject I want those planning to conceive to be aware of.

The pelvic floor muscles are involved in blood circulation around the pelvis, posture, and core stability. When considering physical preparation during fertility treatment, maintaining pelvic alignment can be seen as part of daily self-care.

Pregnancy makes it even more challenging. As the abdomen grows, the weight of the uterus continuously burdens the pelvic floor muscles. If they are already difficult to consciously engage, this can easily lead to discomfort around the lower back and pelvis.

And during childbirth. When the baby passes through the birth canal, the pelvic floor muscles stretch significantly. It is believed that if these muscles are flexible, they can adapt more easily to these changes.

If the pelvic floor muscles remain weakened after childbirth, urinary leakage may persist, and the risk of pelvic organ prolapse, where organs descend, can increase. This was precisely the timing of my own experience.

That's why I believe it's much better to "be somewhat aware before it happens" rather than "address it after it happens."

6 | So, what should we do?

The typical way to engage the pelvic floor muscles is through Kegel exercises. You "squeeze" around the vagina and anus, and then slowly relax. You repeat this. No equipment is needed, and you can do it while sitting.

However, it's also true that few people continue them consistently.

Because they are hard to consciously control, you often think you're doing them but aren't. And because it's hard to feel changes, it's easy to give up.

That's where EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) comes in as an option. It's a technology that targets muscles with electrical impulses, making it easy to incorporate external care for muscles that are hard to consciously engage.

Integrating care into a system that doesn't require constant effort to "do it." That's what I love about this device.

7 | Now, when you're not yet concerned, is the perfect time

I'm sure some of you reading this article thought, "I'm fine for now."

That's probably true. However, the pelvic floor muscles are muscles that take some time to consciously engage once you start becoming concerned about them.

As I experienced, even if you "think you know," it's hard to accept it as something pertaining to your own body.

But the fact that you're reading this now might mean you're a little concerned or want to know for someone else.

Starting today, try to direct a little awareness to these muscles.

You can start with something as simple as during your bath.