PC Muscle In Women

Both sexes have the PC muscle, but it receives more attention in women. The scientific name of this hammock-shaped muscle is the pubococcygeus muscle, its Latin name musculus pubococcygeus. In women, it stretches from the pubic bone to the coccyx, or the end of the vertebral column, and is the most important muscle of the pelvic floor; it carries out important jobs such as controlling the flow of urine, positioning a baby’s head properly during childbirth, and contracting during sexual intercourse.

Even though the common name is singular, “PC muscle”, it is actually a cluster of muscles that form a sling-shaped muscle group, the pubococcygeus muscles. This group of muscles is found in the female and male pelvis, and includes the pelvic diaphragm, pubococcygeus, puborectalis (part of the larger pubococcygeus muscle), iliococcygeus, coccygeus, piriformis, iliacus, and psoas major.

The puborectalis and PC muscle wrap around the posterior aspect of the rectum, creating a “sling” that holds the rectum forward in the pelvis. In addition, the PC and iliococcygeus muscles make up the levator ani, which are muscles that support the midline organs of the pelvis. Men have the same group of muscles, but without the vaginal support.

Conditions such as vaginal and uterine prolapse occur because this muscle becomes atrophied, allowing a portion of the vaginal canal or uterus to protrude from the vaginal opening, and urinary stress incontinence (peeing as a result of laughing, coughing, or sneezing) also occurs because the PC muscle is weak.

A strong PC muscle can help a woman prepare for the last trimester of pregnancy and a vaginal birth; exercising it after experiencing such trauma (the stretching involved in a vaginal delivery counts as trauma) helps it to firm up, strengthening so that it can perform these important jobs correctly. In serious cases of pubococcygeus muscle atrophy, doctors must perform surgery to correct weak, thin tissue.

In addition to strengthening exercises with Kegel devices, avoiding certain movements and activities can help retain the tone of a woman’s PC muscle. Activities such as running and other high-impact aerobics, along with gravity, can work to pull the female PC muscle down. Women also must be careful of not bearing down or straining excessively during weight training exercises, childbirth, and bowel movements. Other external forces beyond a woman’s control can weaken the PC muscle, such as radiation treatments for cancer.

While the PC muscle really does not have an effect on a woman’s breasts or hormones, it does play an impressive role during pregnancy and childbirth. A strong and toned PC muscle can make the pregnancy term easier, delivery easier, shorter, and less painful for the mother, and shortened recovery time after the birth.

If a woman starts out with a healthy PC muscle, the entire birthing process will be less injurious and traumatic for her. Delivery is safer for the baby as well, if the PC muscle is in better shape, as it is much easier for the baby to move naturally through the birthing canal in the proper motion, making his or her entrance into the world much smoother and less complicated. After a baby is born the healing process for a mother will be much less painful and take much less time.

Depending on the mother’s condition, doctors can prescribe Kegel exercises as soon as six or seven weeks after baby is born. Depending on how long the mother practiced Kegel exercises prior to the birth, there is a minimum amount of time missed due to labor and recuperation, giving those muscles a short amount of time to atrophy. Because each mother and labor is different, the doctor may prescribe different types of devices and exercises, and new mothers should take it easy during the beginning stages of their Kegel routine.

It is important to ease back into the exercise regime, and if there is any pain or acute discomfort, she should contact her doctor immediately. As she heals and her muscles get back into shape, she will feel a “tightening up” similar to the experience when working out other muscle groups of the body. As they get stronger, she can increase the exercise intensity, ensuring that the strength, tone, and quality of the muscles continue to improve.