Frequently Asked Questions

Can a woman be too old for kegels?

Women are never too old for kegels. The body can build muscle mass, strength, and control at any age.

Many women in their 70s and 80s, and some in their 90s, have joined the Kegel Queen Program and are some of our most satisfied members.

Some older women may be too unwell for kegels, if they are frail or cognitively challenged; health is a factor, but age alone is never a factor.

Can kegels help prolapse actually go back up?

According to multiple scientific studies, yes, prolapse can improve with kegels. Research has shown that pelvic floor muscle training (a.k.a., kegel exercises) can improve prolapse stage (how severe the prolapse is) by one stage.

Here’s one example from the research. Note that randomized controlled trials are considered the gold standard, the type of research most likely to yield accurate results.

The International Urogynecology Consultation reviewed 11 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and concluded, “There is good evidence/recommendations from 11 RCTs that PFMT is effective in reducing POP symptoms and/or improving POP stage (by one stage) in women with POP-Q stage I, II, and III in the general female population…”

In plain English, this means that for women with stage I, II, and III prolapse, kegels were shown to make prolapse less severe.

Does this mean that women who have stage IV prolapse can’t benefit? No. It means that there isn’t enough research on this yet, and we need more studies that include stage IV prolapse.

Does this mean everyone who does kegels will see this type of improvement? No. With research we’re not talking about every single woman getting every single benefit. We’re talking about the overall results for many women.

Since kegels are safe when you do them correctly, why not give it a try? There’s no down side to getting started, and finding out how much kegels can do for you!

Can kegels help the pain, discomfort, and heaviness of prolapse?

According to multiple scientific studies, yes, prolapse symptoms can improve with kegels.

Here’s one example from the research. Note that randomized controlled trials are considered the gold standard, the type of research most likely to yield accurate results.

The “POPPY” international randomized controlled trial included 447 women in 3 countries, and found that pelvic floor muscle training improved quality of life and reduced every prolapse symptom studied:

* Feeling of something coming down
* Discomfort or abdominal pain when standing
* Lower back heaviness
* Straining to empty the bladder
* Feeling that the bowel or bladder were not empty

All these prolapse symptoms listed improved in the pelvic floor muscle training group.

This study looked at women with stage I, II, and III prolapse. Does this mean that women who have stage IV prolapse can’t benefit? No. It means that there isn’t enough research on this yet, and we need more studies that include stage IV prolapse.

Does this mean everyone who does kegels will see this type of improvement? No. With research we’re not talking about every single woman getting every single benefit. We’re talking about the overall results for many women.

Since kegels are safe when you do them correctly, why not give it a try? There’s no down side to getting started, and finding out how much kegels can do for you!

Can kegels help urinary incontinence?

According to multiple scientific studies, yes, urinary incontinence can improve with kegels.

Here are just two examples from the research.

Example 1: The Cochrane Collaboration analyzed 31 studies from 14 countries. They found that women with urinary incontinence, who did kegels, were 5 times more likely to report being cured. Women with stress urinary incontinence (“sneeze pee”), who did kegels, were 8 times more likely to report being cured.

And that doesn’t even include women who improved but weren’t completely cured!

Example 2: Researchers in Greece and Norway analyzed data from hundreds of postmenopausal women and concluded, “Our analysis shows a 92% chance of significant improvement for patients receiving PFMT [pelvic floor muscle training, a.k.a. kegels]…”

A 92% chance of significant improvement? I’ll take those odds!

Does this mean everyone who does kegels will improve? No. With research we’re not talking about every single woman getting every single benefit. We’re talking about the overall results for many women.

Since kegels are safe when you do them correctly, why not give it a try? There’s no down side to getting started, and finding out how much kegels can do for you!

Can kegels help any type of prolapse — cystocele, rectocele, enterocele or prolapsed uterus?

There is research evidence that pelvic floor muscle training, a.k.a. kegel exercises, can help rectocele (vaginal prolapse of the rectum), cystocele (prolapsed bladder), and prolapsed uterus.

More research is needed to look at how kegels can affect enterocele (prolapsed small intestine) in particular. However, kegels can change the muscles in ways that are believed to benefit all types of vaginal prolapse regardless of which organ or organs are prolapsed.

Can kegels help me have better sex?

When I am asked this question, I always think of an acquaintance, the husband of a Kegel Queen member, who approached me for an awkward half hug and a ‘thank you’ at an event before he melted back into the crowd. Between the lines, I had some guesses about what was happening for him and his wife between the sheets!

The research says yes, pelvic floor muscle training can help women, and their male partners, have better sex.

Here are just two examples from the research.

Example 1: A Norwegian study looked at women with pelvic organ prolapse. Thirty-nine percent of the women who did kegels had improved sexual function, including improved self-confidence, improved libido and orgasms, and “heightened sexual gratification for partners.”

Example 2: Turkish researchers looked at women with overactive bladder. After 6 weeks of kegels, women experienced
• Improved desire
• Improved arousal
• Improved orgasm
• Improved satisfaction,
• Decreased pain with sex
• Increased partner satisfaction
And their overactive bladder got better too.

Does this mean everyone who does kegels will see this type of improvement? No. With research we’re not talking about every single woman getting every single benefit. We’re talking about the overall results for many women.

Since kegels are safe when you do them correctly, why not give it a try? There’s no down side to getting started, and finding out how much kegels can do for you!

Can kegels help if I’ve already had a hysterectomy, or prolapse repair surgery?

With the human body, there are no guarantees, and on this topic, there is little to no research to lean on for guidance.

But my philosophy is simple: healthy, well-functioning muscles are always a good idea. And if there are health concerns about a specific area of the body, healthy, well-functioning muscles in that area are a very good idea.

Since kegels are safe when you do them correctly, why not give it a try? There’s no down side to getting started, and finding out how much kegels can do for you!

I’m not great with technology. Can I still do the Kegel Queen Program?

Yes, you can! If you can click a link in an email and log in on a website, you can do this program! And if you ever have issues accessing the program materials, our kind and friendly customer service team is here to help you.

Is the Kegel Queen Program appropriate for a woman who is considering surgery in the future?

Yes. Since kegels are safe when you do them correctly, there is no down side to getting started with kegels, regardless of whether you are considering surgery in the future or not.

Can the Kegel Queen Program help women who have been through physical therapy?

Yes. Kegel Queen members who have seen excellent physical therapists find that the program can add to the benefits of PT and that it provides valuable additional training. Kegel Queen members who have seen not-very-excellent PTs find that the program provides essential training and knowledge they did not receive in PT.

“Alyce is an excellent teacher. I have not found anyone, including my physical therapists, who were able to teach how to do Kegel exercises as clearly.” — Kegel Queen member S.F., New York

Can I do kegels with a pessary in place?

This is a matter of personal preference. Some women prefer to do kegels without a pessary in place. Many women who use a pessary are able to practice kegel exercises with a pessary in place, and some women find that wearing a pessary can make kegels easier by holding prolapsed organs out of the way.

What if kegels don’t work for me?

There is no medical treatment — no drug, operation, or technique — that completely cures 100% of people 100% of the time. Correct kegel technique can work wonders, as the research shows, and individual women respond differently to kegels because of their different genes and their different history.

However kegels may benefit you personally, in the Kegel Queen Program, you get a wealth of information about what you can do besides kegels to care for incontinence and prolapse.

The program is designed so that even if kegels are not the main benefit for you, you still get incredible value as a Kegel Queen member.

So instead of feeling like you’re at the mercy of your physical problems, or at the mercy of a broken health care system, you feel like you’re in charge. And so you can shift the focus away from thinking and worrying about your prolapse or incontinence and focus on enjoying your life.

My doctor said kegels won’t help. Can kegels help me anyway?

There’s abundant research evidence that kegels can help women with urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Despite this, women often tell me, “my doctor said kegels won’t help,” or “my doctor said kegels can’t help prolapse.”

Kegels may or may not help any individual woman. Everyone’s genes and history are different. Without a crystal ball, I can’t predict who is going to benefit from kegels and who is not. But I’m pretty sure your doctor doesn’t have a crystal ball either.

Many doctors haven’t had patients who are doing kegels correctly, so they may genuinely believe kegels don’t work. And because the financial reward for surgery is significant and office visits are squeezed for time, doctors don’t have much incentive to research, teach, and promote non-surgical approaches for prolapse and incontinence.

Since kegels are safe when you do them correctly, why not give it a try? There’s no down side to getting started, and finding out how much kegels can do for you!

Alyce Adams, RN, is the Kegel Queen

Alyce is known as a sought-after kegel exercise expert around the world, helping women discover correct technique for real kegels. She is famous for  creating the Kegel Success in Minutes a Day Program, the one-of-a-kind complete, no-devices, safe-at-home kegel exercise program created and tested by a Registered Nurse.

The Kegel Queen busts the kegel myths that hold women back — even if they've learned from a doctor, physical therapist, or childbirth teacher. Alyce’s programs are based on research that shows kegels can help urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse — with no annoying and inconvenient kegel devices, no drugs, and no ineffective and dangerous surgery. The Kegel Queen Program has reached over 3,749 women in 31 countries around the world. Find out how to do one quality kegel, and get started today!

Your Next Easy Step
Check out the Kegel Queen's new webinar: Pelvic prolapse & bladder control: How kegels, done correctly, can hold the key — and why bogus kegels will take you nowhere, even if you learned from a doctor, childbirth teacher, or physical therapist

You'll find out how to do one quality kegel, the first step to doing kegels right. Get started today!

References

Bø K, Anglès-Acedo S, Batra A, Brækken IH, Chan YL, Jorge CH, Kruger J, Yadav M, Dumoulin C. International urogynecology consultation chapter 3 committee 2; conservative treatment of patient with pelvic organ prolapse: Pelvic floor muscle training. Int Urogynecol J. 2022 Oct;33(10):2633-2667. doi: 10.1007/s00192-022-05324-0. Epub 2022 Aug 18. PMID: 35980443; PMCID: PMC9477909.

Bø K, Engh ME, Teig CJ, Tennfjord MK. Do Women with Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Organ Prolapse Receive Optimal First-Line Treatment? Int Urogynecol J. 2025 Jan;36(1):117-123. doi: 10.1007/s00192-024-05990-2. Epub 2024 Nov 11. PMID: 39527294; PMCID: PMC11785617.

Braekken IH, Majida M, Ellström Engh M, Bø K. Can pelvic floor muscle training improve sexual function in women with pelvic organ prolapse? A randomized controlled trial. J Sex Med. 2015 Feb;12(2):470-80. doi: 10.1111/jsm.12746. Epub 2014 Nov 17. PMID: 25401779.

Braekken IH, Majida M, Engh ME, Bø K. Can pelvic floor muscle training reverse pelvic organ prolapse and reduce prolapse symptoms? An assessor-blinded, randomized, controlled trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Aug;203(2):170.e1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2010.02.037. Epub 2010 May 1. PMID: 20435294.

Celenay ST, Karaaslan Y, Ozdemir E. Effects of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on Sexual Dysfunction, Sexual Satisfaction of Partners, Urinary Symptoms, and Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength in Women With Overactive Bladder: A Randomized Controlled Study. J Sex Med. 2022 Sep;19(9):1421-1430. doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2022.07.003. Epub 2022 Aug 5. PMID: 35934663.

Curillo-Aguirre CA, Gea-Izquierdo E. Effectiveness of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on Quality of Life in Women with Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 May 23;59(6):1004. doi: 10.3390/medicina59061004. PMID: 37374208; PMCID: PMC10301414.

Dumoulin C, Cacciari LP, Hay-Smith EJC. Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Oct 4;10(10):CD005654. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005654.pub4. PMID: 30288727; PMCID: PMC6516955.

Dumoulin C, Hunter KF, Moore K, Bradley CS, Burgio KL, Hagen S, Imamura M, Thakar R, Williams K, Chambers T. Conservative management for female urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse review 2013: Summary of the 5th International Consultation on Incontinence. Neurourol Urodyn. 2016 Jan;35(1):15-20. doi: 10.1002/nau.22677. Epub 2014 Nov 15. PMID: 25400065.

Dumoulin C, Morin M, Danieli C, Cacciari L, Mayrand MH, Tousignant M, Abrahamowicz M; Urinary Incontinence and Aging Study Group. Group-Based vs Individual Pelvic Floor Muscle Training to Treat Urinary Incontinence in Older Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2020 Oct 1;180(10):1284-1293. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.2993. PMID: 32744599; PMCID: PMC7400216.

Espiño-Albela A, Castaño-García C, Díaz-Mohedo E, Ibáñez-Vera AJ. Effects of Pelvic-Floor Muscle Training in Patients with Pelvic Organ Prolapse Approached with Surgery vs. Conservative Treatment: A Systematic Review. J Pers Med. 2022 May 17;12(5):806. doi: 10.3390/jpm12050806. PMID: 35629228; PMCID: PMC9142907.

Firet L, Teunissen TAM, Kool RB, Notten KJB, Lagro-Janssen ALM, van der Vaart H, Assendelft WJJ. Usage of a Web-Based eHealth Intervention for Women With Stress Urinary Incontinence: Mixed Methods Study. J Med Internet Res. 2022 Nov 17;24(11):e38255. doi: 10.2196/38255. PMID: 36394923; PMCID: PMC9716423.

Hagen S, Stark D, Glazener C, Dickson S, Barry S, Elders A, Frawley H, Galea MP, Logan J, McDonald A, McPherson G, Moore KH, Norrie J, Walker A, Wilson D; POPPY Trial Collaborators. Individualised pelvic floor muscle training in women with pelvic organ prolapse (POPPY): a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2014 Mar 1;383(9919):796-806. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61977-7. Epub 2013 Nov 28. Erratum in: Lancet. 2014 Jul 5;384(9937):28. PMID: 24290404.

Laganà AS, La Rosa VL, Rapisarda AMC, Vitale SG. Pelvic organ prolapse: the impact on quality of life and psychological well-being. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2018 Jun;39(2):164-166. doi: 10.1080/0167482X.2017.1294155. Epub 2017 Mar 1. PMID: 28589780.

Le Berre M, Filiatrault J, Reichetzer B, Kairy D, Lachance C, Dumoulin C. Online Group-based Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for Urinary Incontinence in Older Women: a Pilot Study. Int Urogynecol J. 2024 Apr;35(4):811-822. doi: 10.1007/s00192-024-05728-0. Epub 2024 Feb 5. PMID: 38315227.

Lowder JL, Ghetti C, Nikolajski C, Oliphant SS, Zyczynski HM. Body image perceptions in women with pelvic organ prolapse: a qualitative study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2011 May;204(5):441.e1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2010.12.024. Epub 2011 Feb 2. PMID: 21292234. 

Marcellou EG, Stasi S, Giannopapas V, Bø K, Bakalidou D, Konstadoulakis M, Papathanasiou G. Effect of pelvic floor muscle training on urinary incontinence symptoms in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2025 Jan;304:134-140. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.11.040. Epub 2024 Nov 26. PMID: 39615241.

Miller JM, Ashton-Miller JA, DeLancey JO. A pelvic muscle precontraction can reduce cough-related urine loss in selected women with mild SUI. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1998 Jul;46(7):870-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1998.tb02721.x. PMID: 9670874.

Ouchi M, Kitta T, Kanno Y, Moriya K, Suzuki S, Shinohara N, Kato K. Medium-term follow-up after supervised pelvic floor muscle training for patients with anterior vaginal wall prolapse. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2018 Jun;225:95-100. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2018.04.015. Epub 2018 Apr 12. PMID: 29702450.

Peinado Molina RA, Hernández Martínez A, Martínez Vázquez S, Martínez Galiano JM. Influence of pelvic floor disorders on quality of life in women. Front Public Health. 2023 Oct 24;11:1180907. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1180907. PMID: 37942254; PMCID: PMC10629477.

Radzimińska A, Strączyńska A, Weber-Rajek M, Styczyńska H, Strojek K, Piekorz Z. The impact of pelvic floor muscle training on the quality of life of women with urinary incontinence: a systematic literature review. Clin Interv Aging. 2018 May 17;13:957-965. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S160057. PMID: 29844662; PMCID: PMC5962309.

Resende APM, Bernardes BT, Stüpp L, Oliveira E, Castro RA, Girão MJBC, Sartori MGF. Pelvic floor muscle training is better than hypopressive exercises in pelvic organ prolapse treatment: An assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial. Neurourol Urodyn. 2019 Jan;38(1):171-179. doi: 10.1002/nau.23819. Epub 2018 Oct 12. PMID: 30311680.

Wang T, Wen Z, Li M. The effect of pelvic floor muscle training for women with pelvic organ prolapse: a meta-analysis. Int Urogynecol J. 2022 Jul;33(7):1789-1801. doi: 10.1007/s00192-022-05139-z. Epub 2022 Mar 21. PMID: 35312800.


Bø K, Anglès-Acedo S, Batra A, Brækken IH, Chan YL, Jorge CH, Kruger J, Yadav M, Dumoulin C. International urogynecology consultation chapter 3 committee 2; conservative treatment of patient with pelvic organ prolapse: Pelvic floor muscle training. Int Urogynecol J. 2022 Oct;33(10):2633-2667. doi: 10.1007/s00192-022-05324-0. Epub 2022 Aug 18. PMID: 35980443; PMCID: PMC9477909.

Bø K, Engh ME, Teig CJ, Tennfjord MK. Do Women with Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Organ Prolapse Receive Optimal First-Line Treatment? Int Urogynecol J. 2025 Jan;36(1):117-123. doi: 10.1007/s00192-024-05990-2. Epub 2024 Nov 11. PMID: 39527294; PMCID: PMC11785617.

Braekken IH, Majida M, Ellström Engh M, Bø K. Can pelvic floor muscle training improve sexual function in women with pelvic organ prolapse? A randomized controlled trial. J Sex Med. 2015 Feb;12(2):470-80. doi: 10.1111/jsm.12746. Epub 2014 Nov 17. PMID: 25401779.

Braekken IH, Majida M, Engh ME, Bø K. Can pelvic floor muscle training reverse pelvic organ prolapse and reduce prolapse symptoms? An assessor-blinded, randomized, controlled trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Aug;203(2):170.e1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2010.02.037. Epub 2010 May 1. PMID: 20435294.

Celenay ST, Karaaslan Y, Ozdemir E. Effects of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on Sexual Dysfunction, Sexual Satisfaction of Partners, Urinary Symptoms, and Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength in Women With Overactive Bladder: A Randomized Controlled Study. J Sex Med. 2022 Sep;19(9):1421-1430. doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2022.07.003. Epub 2022 Aug 5. PMID: 35934663.

Curillo-Aguirre CA, Gea-Izquierdo E. Effectiveness of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on Quality of Life in Women with Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 May 23;59(6):1004. doi: 10.3390/medicina59061004. PMID: 37374208; PMCID: PMC10301414.

Dumoulin C, Cacciari LP, Hay-Smith EJC. Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Oct 4;10(10):CD005654. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005654.pub4. PMID: 30288727; PMCID: PMC6516955.

Dumoulin C, Hunter KF, Moore K, Bradley CS, Burgio KL, Hagen S, Imamura M, Thakar R, Williams K, Chambers T. Conservative management for female urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse review 2013: Summary of the 5th International Consultation on Incontinence. Neurourol Urodyn. 2016 Jan;35(1):15-20. doi: 10.1002/nau.22677. Epub 2014 Nov 15. PMID: 25400065.

Dumoulin C, Morin M, Danieli C, Cacciari L, Mayrand MH, Tousignant M, Abrahamowicz M; Urinary Incontinence and Aging Study Group. Group-Based vs Individual Pelvic Floor Muscle Training to Treat Urinary Incontinence in Older Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2020 Oct 1;180(10):1284-1293. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.2993. PMID: 32744599; PMCID: PMC7400216.

Espiño-Albela A, Castaño-García C, Díaz-Mohedo E, Ibáñez-Vera AJ. Effects of Pelvic-Floor Muscle Training in Patients with Pelvic Organ Prolapse Approached with Surgery vs. Conservative Treatment: A Systematic Review. J Pers Med. 2022 May 17;12(5):806. doi: 10.3390/jpm12050806. PMID: 35629228; PMCID: PMC9142907.

Firet L, Teunissen TAM, Kool RB, Notten KJB, Lagro-Janssen ALM, van der Vaart H, Assendelft WJJ. Usage of a Web-Based eHealth Intervention for Women With Stress Urinary Incontinence: Mixed Methods Study. J Med Internet Res. 2022 Nov 17;24(11):e38255. doi: 10.2196/38255. PMID: 36394923; PMCID: PMC9716423.

Hagen S, Stark D, Glazener C, Dickson S, Barry S, Elders A, Frawley H, Galea MP, Logan J, McDonald A, McPherson G, Moore KH, Norrie J, Walker A, Wilson D; POPPY Trial Collaborators. Individualised pelvic floor muscle training in women with pelvic organ prolapse (POPPY): a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2014 Mar 1;383(9919):796-806. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61977-7. Epub 2013 Nov 28. Erratum in: Lancet. 2014 Jul 5;384(9937):28. PMID: 24290404.

Hong JH, Choo MS, Lee KS. Long-term results of laparoscopic Burch colposuspension for stress urinary incontinence in women. J Korean Med Sci. 2009 Dec;24(6):1182-6. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2009.24.6.1182. Epub 2009 Nov 9. PMID: 19949679; PMCID: PMC2775871.

Karmakar D, Dwyer PL, Murray C, Schierlitz L, Dykes N, Zilberlicht A. Long-term effectiveness and safety of open Burch colposuspension vs retropubic midurethral sling for stress urinary incontinence-results from a large comparative study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Jun;224(6):593.e1-593.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.11.043. Epub 2020 Dec 13. PMID: 33316277.

Kjølhede P. Long-term efficacy of Burch colposuspension: a 14-year follow-up study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2005 Aug;84(8):767-72. doi: 10.1111/j.0001-6349.2005.00731.x. PMID: 16026403.

Laganà AS, La Rosa VL, Rapisarda AMC, Vitale SG. Pelvic organ prolapse: the impact on quality of life and psychological well-being. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2018 Jun;39(2):164-166. doi: 10.1080/0167482X.2017.1294155. Epub 2017 Mar 1. PMID: 28589780.

Le Berre M, Filiatrault J, Reichetzer B, Kairy D, Lachance C, Dumoulin C. Online Group-based Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for Urinary Incontinence in Older Women: a Pilot Study. Int Urogynecol J. 2024 Apr;35(4):811-822. doi: 10.1007/s00192-024-05728-0. Epub 2024 Feb 5. PMID: 38315227.

Lowder JL, Ghetti C, Nikolajski C, Oliphant SS, Zyczynski HM. Body image perceptions in women with pelvic organ prolapse: a qualitative study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2011 May;204(5):441.e1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2010.12.024. Epub 2011 Feb 2. PMID: 21292234. 

Marcellou EG, Stasi S, Giannopapas V, Bø K, Bakalidou D, Konstadoulakis M, Papathanasiou G. Effect of pelvic floor muscle training on urinary incontinence symptoms in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2025 Jan;304:134-140. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.11.040. Epub 2024 Nov 26. PMID: 39615241.

Miller JM, Ashton-Miller JA, DeLancey JO. A pelvic muscle precontraction can reduce cough-related urine loss in selected women with mild SUI. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1998 Jul;46(7):870-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1998.tb02721.x. PMID: 9670874.

Ouchi M, Kitta T, Kanno Y, Moriya K, Suzuki S, Shinohara N, Kato K. Medium-term follow-up after supervised pelvic floor muscle training for patients with anterior vaginal wall prolapse. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2018 Jun;225:95-100. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2018.04.015. Epub 2018 Apr 12. PMID: 29702450.

Peinado Molina RA, Hernández Martínez A, Martínez Vázquez S, Martínez Galiano JM. Influence of pelvic floor disorders on quality of life in women. Front Public Health. 2023 Oct 24;11:1180907. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1180907. PMID: 37942254; PMCID: PMC10629477.

Radzimińska A, Strączyńska A, Weber-Rajek M, Styczyńska H, Strojek K, Piekorz Z. The impact of pelvic floor muscle training on the quality of life of women with urinary incontinence: a systematic literature review. Clin Interv Aging. 2018 May 17;13:957-965. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S160057. PMID: 29844662; PMCID: PMC5962309.

Resende APM, Bernardes BT, Stüpp L, Oliveira E, Castro RA, Girão MJBC, Sartori MGF. Pelvic floor muscle training is better than hypopressive exercises in pelvic organ prolapse treatment: An assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial. Neurourol Urodyn. 2019 Jan;38(1):171-179. doi: 10.1002/nau.23819. Epub 2018 Oct 12. PMID: 30311680.

Shi W, Guo L. Risk factors for the recurrence of pelvic organ prolapse: a meta-analysis. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2023 Dec;43(1):2160929. doi: 10.1080/ 01443615.2022. 2160929. PMID: 36645334.

Wang T, Wen Z, Li M. The effect of pelvic floor muscle training for women with pelvic organ prolapse: a meta-analysis. Int Urogynecol J. 2022 Jul;33(7):1789-1801. doi: 10.1007/s00192-022-05139-z. Epub 2022 Mar 21. PMID: 35312800.

Whiteside JL, Weber AM, Meyn LA, Walters MD. Risk factors for prolapse recurrence after vaginal repair. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2004 Nov;191(5):1533-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2004.06.109. PMID: 15547521.