How Early should we learn about Pelvic Health?
Jun 23, 2022By Kim Vopni, The Vagina Coach — Certified Pelvic Floor Fitness Specialist · Published June 23, 2022
Direct Answer
It is never too early — or too late — to learn about pelvic health. Teaching girls and young women about the pelvic floor and how to do pelvic floor exercises early helps prevent dysfunction like incontinence later in life. Pelvic health matters for everyone, not just those who are pregnant or postpartum; even teens and athletes can have symptoms of a weak pelvic floor.
Key Takeaways
- Pelvic health matters for everyone, not just pregnant or postpartum women — and learning early helps prevent future dysfunction.
- NICE guidance recommends girls aged 12–17 be taught pelvic floor exercises in school to help avoid incontinence later in life.
- Leaks affect all ages: about 10% of women with pelvic floor weakness are under 39, and over 30% of female athletes experience bladder leaks.
- Many girls get no pelvic health education until pregnancy — often too late; one study found only 14% of students could identify the vagina.
- The solution is to start the conversation early, get educated, and see a pelvic floor physical therapist when needed.
Whether you are experiencing pelvic floor symptoms or not or don’t know what these symptoms would feel like, it's never too late to learn about YOUR body.
Pelvic health is an important topic for EVERYONE, not just women who are pregnant and postpartum.
Improving women's awareness of pelvic floor health and teaching them pelvic floor muscle exercises early in their lives is an effective way to prevent pelvic floor dysfunction in the future.
The sad reality is that most pelvic health clients first learn about their anatomy, mechanics, and the function of their pelvic floor when they are having concerns or getting a prescription from their doctor to help return them to “normal” or improve symptoms they are having from a dysfunction.
Often the first-time women get any education is when they are pregnant or about to give birth. Here’s the rub, pregnancy itself, for many, is already too late to have gone without this information. They needed it BEFORE they were pregnant, not after delivery.
According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), girls aged 12 to 17 should be taught in school how to do pelvic floor exercises to avoid issues such as incontinence later in life.
Leaks happen to women of all shapes, sizes, and ages.
Most people assume that it is only older women that have bladder or bowel problems or problems 'down there,' but you could be in your teens or early twenties and have signs of a weak pelvic floor. Approximately 10% of women with pelvic floor weakness are under the age of 39.
While pregnancy or aging often lead to leakage problems and stress urinary incontinence (SUI), they aren’t the only things at fault.
- Over 30% of female athletes deal with bladder leaks.
- Overweight or obese females are also more likely to deal.
- Chronic coughing, smoking, and nerve injuries to the lower back are other factors that can contribute to SUI.
High-impact sports can be a big contributor to why so many student-athletes find themselves dealing with leakage issues. Hormonal fluctuations can also play a role throughout the teen years.
Getting yearly check-ups by a physical therapist trained in youth sports and spine and trunk control specific to girls’ bodies can help prevent seemingly small problems from becoming bigger injuries.
Sometimes there may seem to be no direct cause for symptoms. One sad fact about incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction is that it affects around 30% of girls before their 20s who are already having pelvic floor symptoms and a significant number of girls and women who have these symptoms already, regardless of their activity.
In a study conducted at the University of Illinois at Chicago, researchers found female students from three Chicago schools in eighth and ninth grade had very little knowledge of their bodies, pelvic function, and pelvic conditions. Only 14 percent could identify the vagina, and 70 percent thought it was normal to leak urine.
The reality is. It is not ‘normal’
Teens rarely talk about their periods or incontinence problems with their friends. Often as young girls & boys, we learn that peeing your pants is shameful and, talking about peeing and pooping is not OK, and getting your period is a big secret.
The Solution - Start the conversation early.
Get educated and share the information with young women. Speak with a pelvic floor or physical therapist.
It's time for pelvic health to be discussed and offered to all vagina owners!
It's time to break through taboos and redefine how we think about women’s health. You CAN overcome challenges like incontinence and organ prolapse and regain a sense of control and confidence in your life.
Exercises Programs
The 28-Day Challenge and Buff Muff Membership
I recommend checking out my comprehensive pelvic health education and fitness programs on my Buff Muff App. The most complete Pelvic Floor & Kegel exercise App to strengthen the pelvic floor.
The Buff Muff 28-Day Challenge (housed in the App) gets you started, and the Annual membership keeps you progressing so you can laugh, run, jump, and lift without the pesky leaks and annoying discomfort of prolapse symptoms.
Resources:
Frequently Asked Questions
How early should we learn about pelvic health?
As early as possible. Improving awareness and teaching pelvic floor exercises early is an effective way to prevent future dysfunction. NICE guidance recommends girls aged 12 to 17 be taught how to do pelvic floor exercises in school to help avoid issues such as incontinence later in life.
Is pelvic health only relevant to pregnant and postpartum women?
No. Pelvic health is important for everyone. Many women first learn about their pelvic floor only when a problem appears or during pregnancy — which for many is already too late. The information is most valuable before problems or pregnancy, not after.
Can young women and teens have pelvic floor problems?
Yes. Leaks happen to women of all ages. Roughly 10% of women with pelvic floor weakness are under 39, over 30% of female athletes deal with bladder leaks, and around 30% of girls already have pelvic floor symptoms before their twenties.
What causes incontinence in younger women?
Beyond pregnancy and aging, contributors include high-impact sport, hormonal fluctuations during the teen years, being overweight, chronic coughing, smoking, and nerve injuries to the lower back. Sometimes there is no single obvious cause, which is why awareness matters.
Is it normal to leak urine?
No. Leaking is common but it is not normal, and it is not something you have to accept. In one study, 70% of students thought it was normal to leak urine — it is not. Pelvic floor training and support can help resolve it.
What can I do to protect my pelvic floor early?
Start the conversation early, get educated, and share the information with young women. Speak with a pelvic floor or physical therapist, and build simple pelvic floor exercises into your routine — for example through Kim’s Buff Muff app.
Related Articles
- How To Stop Overactive Bladder
- Incontinence in CrossFit
- Pelvic Health Is Not Just About Kegels
- You CAN Fix Incontinence and Prolapse
- Why I Recommend Seeing a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist
If you enjoyed this article, you might also like our episode:
Pelvic Health Longevity
Listen to the episode
