"Urge incontinence" is most common amongst men and the elderly, although it can also affect women.  Muscles in the wall of the bladder contract, uncontrollably and at the wrong time without having warned the brain.  This is called having an "overactive bladder".
Symptoms of both stress and urge incontinence are often found together ("Mixed Incontinence"). 
Incontinence can be a distressing and isolating condition. It significantly impacts on social and work related aspects of an individual's life.

What are my Pelvic Floor Muscles and why should I exercise them?

The pelvic floor is composed of layers of muscle, which lay just under the surface of the pelvis, hence the name, "pelvic floor". As a group, these muscles start at the pubis, just above the genitals and extend back to the coccyx, or "tailbone." The pelvic floor muscles are connected by fibres to the urethra, the anal canal and the vagina.

The pelvic floor muscles are important for several reasons.  They support the organs within the pelvis and lower abdomen; they close the urethra and anal canal preventing leakage of urine or faeces.  Their contractions signal to the bladder, rectum and colon when it is time to urinate and expel faeces, and they relax to open the urethra and anal canal to allow easy excretion and urination.

The pelvic floor muscles are normally under voluntary control, unlike the smooth muscle of the body, in the bladder, colon and rectum. But when the pelvic floor muscles are weak, which often happens during pregnancy due to the weight of the baby, through repeated heavy lifting, constipation or changes in hormone levels with age, muscle control is depleted or may be lost altogether.  Exercising these muscles ensures that they perform properly and so significantly help to prevent incontinence. 

Strong pelvic floor muscles may also result in more intense orgasms.  This is because during climax, the muscles of the pelvic floor contract along with those in the anus: the stronger the muscle, the more intense and long lasting the contractions.

How can I exercise my Pelvic floor?

The Vielle Pelvic Floor Toning System has been specially created to strengthen the muscles of your pelvic floor.  It contains three toners of varying size and weight allowing a gentle progression to the smallest and heaviest toner.  The toners work as the pelvic floor muscles are contracted around it, so holding it in place once it has been inserted into the vagina.  Repeated use of the toners for increasing lengths of time and at graduating weights will tone and strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor.

How often should I exercise my Pelvic Floor, and for how long?

Ideally, the pelvic floor muscles should be exercised everyday.  If your period or something else prevents you from exercising for a while, when you restart you may need to reduce the weight of the toner, or the duration of exercise, but ideally 20 minutes of pelvic floor exercise a day is the best way to keep the muscles in good shape.  It may take up to twelve weeks before you notice a difference but even severely weakened muscles can be strengthened.