Comparison of self-reported ability to perform Kegel’s exercise pre- and post-coital penetration in postpartum women

ABSTRACT

We compared the self-reported ability to perform Kegel’s exercises pre- and post-coital penetration in postpartum women. A cross-sectional design. Twenty-seven postpartum women with mild urinary incontinence were recruited. Measures included perceived strength of pelvic floor muscle contraction (Strength of Contraction [SOC] scale] and ease of performing Kegel’s exercises (Ease of Performance [EOP] scale). These measures as well as information on attaining orgasm were collected in one session, pre- and post-coital penetration. Findings showed that both measures (SOC and EOP) varied significantly (p < 0.001) pre- and post-coital penetration, with decreasing values post-coitus. Additionally, the outcomes of both measures showed no significant differences (p < 0.05) between women who reached orgasm and those who did not. Self-reported ability to perform Kegel’s exercise immediately after coital penetration is reported to affect the appropriateness of its performance and effective outcomes. Thus, women should be discouraged from performing Kegel’s exercises immediately post-coitus.

KEYWORDS:

• Kegel’s exercise
• coital penetration
• ease of performance
• perceived strength of contraction
• orgasm

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Authors’ contribution

CPO: protocol development, manuscript writing and editing, and data analysis; GTN and SSE: literature review, and data collection; AUE and UE: project development, and data collection; AEM, SSE and SCC: literature review, manuscript writing and editing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Informed consent

All participants provided written and oral informed consent and the study was conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki.

Ethical considerations

All experimental protocols were approved by the University of Nigeria Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC/05/01/200BB-FWA00002458-1RB00002323) and conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki.

Guarantor

CP Ojukwu

Additional information

Funding

No external funding was obtained for this study.