1. What is a Pelvic Floor Educator?
2. How do I assemble the Educator?
3. What position should I be in to use the Educator?
4. How do I know if I am doing a correct pelvic floor muscle contraction when using the Educator?
5. What should I do if I cannot see the indicator move?
6. What should I do if I see an upward movement of the indicator?
7. What should I do if I see a downward movement of the indicator?
8. Can I use the Educator whilst being pregnant?
9. How soon after having a baby can I use an Educator?
10. How soon after gynaecological surgery can I use the Educator?
11. Can I use the Educator when I have a urinary tract infection?
12. Can I user the Educator if I have thrush?
13. Am I likely to get thrush or any other infection from using the Educator?
14. Can I use the Educator during menstruation?
15. What is the best time of day to use the Educator?
16. How often should I use the Educator?
17. How long should I wait until I feel some improvement?
18. Can I use the Educator if I experience vaginal dryness?
19. How do I clean the Educator?
Answers
1. What is a Pelvic Floor Educator?
(A) The Pelvic Floor Educator is a revolutionary piece of equipment that puts the patient in control. The unique design teaches correct pelvic floor contractions and eliminates the problems related to incontinence. The Pelvic Floor Educator has been developed from the award-winning Periform ® probe and is used by continence care specialists around the world.
2. How do I assemble the Educator?
(A) The diagram above illustrates the correct assembly method of the Educator. The indicator clips into the hole at the end of the Educator. Note: make sure you clip the indicator into the correct side of the hole to ensure that it is at the appropriate angle. You can then connect the extra extensions to the indicator to make it easier for you to observe a correct pelvic floor muscle contraction.
3. What position should I be in to use the Educator?
(A) When first using the Educator you may find it easier to use if you lie down with your head and shoulders supported and your knees slightly bent and apart. Insert the Educator body and try your exercises in that position. You may need a light coating of KY jelly or vaginal lubricant on the Educator body. If you find exercising in the lying position quite easy, you can try exercising whilst sitting on the edge of the chair. If this is possible you can also try your exercises standing up. A well-positioned mirror may assist you in seeing what you are achieving more clearly.
4. How do I know if I am doing a correct pelvic floor muscle contraction when using the Educator?
(A) When the Educator body has been inserted into the vagina, squeeze and lift the pelvic floor muscles as though you were trying to stop yourself mid-stream urine flow or as if you were trying to stop yourself passing wind. The indicator stick should move downwards if you are correctly contracting the pelvic floor muscles.
5. What should I do if I cannot see the indicator move?
(A) First check that you have correctly assembled the Educator. Then, lie down with your head and shoulders supported and your knees slightly bent and apart. Next make sure that you have the body of the Educator inserted into the vagina correctly. Try contracting your pelvic floor muscles again. If you still do not see any movement of the indicator it means that there is either no contraction or an insufficient contraction of the pelvic floor muscles. Concentrate on the correct muscles by imagining you are trying to stop urine and pass wind at the same time. Use the pelvic floor muscles to grip the vaginal part of the Educator tightly. Try this daily for a week or so.
If you continue to be unable to achieve a downward movement of the indicator, further advice should be sought. Visit www.continence-foundation.org.uk or telephone 020 7831 9831 to speak with a representative at the Continence Foundation. They will be able to assist you with the contact details of your local continence physiotherapist or continence advisor.
6. What should I do if I see an upward movement of the indicator?
(A) An upward movement indicates that you are doing your pelvic floor muscle contractions incorrectly. You will be bearing downwards (like when you are trying to open your bowels) rather than lifting and squeezing the pelvic floor muscles inwardly. Try to concentrate on the correct muscles by imagining you are trying to stop urine and pass wind at the same time whilst using the pelvic floor muscles to grip the vaginal part of the Educator tightly. Try this for a few days.
If you continue to have an upward movement of the indicator, further advice should be sought. Visit www.continence-foundation.org.uk or telephone 020 7831 9831 to speak with a representative at the Continence Foundation. They will be able to assist you with the contact details of your local continence physiotherapist or continence advisor.
7. What should I do if I see a downward movement of the indicator?
(A) Congratulations, you are contracting your pelvic floor muscles correctly! Try and contract your pelvic floor muscles for as long as you can (the indicator should stay down during this, do not worry if it seems to shake a little!) When you have found out how long you can hold for (anything up to 10 seconds) repeat it again. Find out how many you can do - as many as 10 of them - this becomes the number of contractions that you practice at each exercise session.
Also find out how many short, fast, strong contractions that you can do at the speed of about one a second - up to 10 of these also, as well as the slow contractions. This way you not only build up the pelvic floor muscles strength, but also the ability to contract swiftly when there is a need to do so such as when you cough, sneeze etc. Whenever you feel that you are about to cough, sneeze or do anything that makes you leak urine, contract your pelvic floor muscles tightly - it should help to prevent the leak.
8. Can I use the Educator whilst being pregnant?
(A) The Educator should NOT be used during pregnancy.
9. How soon after having a baby can I use an Educator?
(A) It is advisable that individuals wait until all the vaginal tissues are fully healed before commencing use of the Educator. This should be by six weeks after childbirth. If you are having any problems with pain, discomfort or discharge, seek medical advice before commencing with the use of the Educator.
10. How soon after gynaecological surgery can I use the Educator?
(A) If you have had vaginal surgery (including hysterectomy of any type) it is advisable to wait until all the vaginal tissues are fully healed before commencing use of the Educator. This should be by six weeks after your operation. If you are having any problems with pain, discomfort or discharge, seek medical advice before commencing use of the Educator.
Note: if you have had abdominal surgery, you can commence use of the Educator as soon as you feel able.
11. Can I use the Educator when I have a urinary tract infection?
(A) Do NOT use the Educator if you have a urinary tract infection (cystitis).
12. Can I use the Educator if I have thrush?
(A) Do NOT use the Educator if you have thrush.
13. Am I likely to get thrush or any other infection from using the Educator?
(A) Using the Educator does not make it any more likely for you to suffer any infection or thrush, provided you carefully follow the instructions regarding its cleaning before and after use.
14. Can I use the Educator during menstruation?
(A) It may be a little messy to us the Educator during menstruation. There would also be a need to be extra careful concerning the cleaning of the Educator. It is therefore not advisable to use the Educator during menstruation.
15. What is the best time of day to use the Educator?
(A) You can use the Educator any time of day, but you will most probably find that you are less able at the end of the day if you are tired. Try first thing in the morning, and then you will know what you are aiming at when exercising at other times of the day.
16. How often should I use the Educator?
(A) To begin with you may like to use your Educator once every day to check and see how you are doing. Remember that in order to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles you will need to practice your pelvic floor muscle exercises three times every day (both the slow and the fast contractions). Once you feel able and confident you may find that you can continue with pelvic floor muscle exercises alone, just using the Educator to check the exercises now and again.
17. How long should I wait until I feel some improvement?
(A) Research has shown that you will need to concentrate on three times daily pelvic floor muscle exercises over a period of three - five months. Once you have achieved success you can reduce your exercises to once a day.
18. Can I use the Educator if I experience vaginal dryness?
(A) It should never be uncomfortable to insert an Educator. Therefore, if necessary use a light coating of KY jelly or other vaginal lubricant. If you are finding that your vagina is increasingly dry your GP will be able to give you appropriate advice.
19. How do I clean the Educator?
(A) Prior to your first use of the Educator you should wash it well in warm soapy water, rinse it thoroughly and then dry. Note: never use boiling water! Whenever you have used the Educator always wash, rinse and dry the equipment.
For additional hygiene and especially if you have had any infections, it is advisable to also disinfect the Educator in a solution of 2 per cent sodium hypochlorite (as used to clean babies feeding bottles). The Educator should be soaked for 30 minutes in the freshly made solution, thoroughly rinsed and dried before storage.