NEW SQUEEZE

Dr Shree Datta, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at King’s College Hospital, on how to master the pelvic floor exercises you felt a bit odd doing at the office

Regular pelvic floor exercises strengthen the muscles around the back passage, the vagina and bladder, improving bowel and urinary control. Some evidence suggests that for women this may increase sensitivity during sex, while NHS guidelines say strengthening pelvic floor muscles can reduce erectile dysfunction in men.

About 10 times a day, empty your bladder, get comfy and squeeze your pelvic floor muscles for a few seconds as though you are stopping a wee. Avoid holding your breath or squeezing your stomach, buttock or thigh muscles as you do. Remember, it can take a few weeks to see a result and it’s important to keep up exercises to maintain the improvement.

Those particularly concerned about their pelvic floor muscles should first consult a doctor. They may subsequently consider specialist physiotherapy at the likes of Six Physio (sixphysio.com), try radiofrequency treatment or use a device such as the KegelSmart by Intimina (£69.95; intimina.co.uk).