Tobacco consumption is a scourge for health, and its impacts on the perineum are too often unknown. Muscle weakening, risks of incontinence, fertility problems… Find out why it is essential to stop smoking to preserve your perineum.

Tobacco, an enemy of the perineum

The pelvic floor muscles, also called perineum muscles, play a crucial role in urinary continence and intimate health.

diagram perineum and bladder uterus rectum

However, tobacco consumption weakens them considerably:

  • There nicotine causes the blood vessels supplying these muscles to narrow, depriving them of oxygen and nutrients.
  • There chronic cough smokers causes repeated jerks which put a strain on the perineum.
  • THE toxic substances from tobacco alter the quality of muscle tissue.

In the long term, these repeated attacks lead to weakening of the muscles of the perineum, fertile ground for the development ofstress urinary incontinence.

I test my perineum

How are smoking and the perineum linked?

Upon entering the lungs, tobacco irritates the bronchi and induces a chronic cough. Repeated coughs act on the perineum, gradually weakening it.

woman who smokes and has a chronic cough

Stopping smoking, in addition to all the other benefits it brings, is one of the health and dietary measures to take to protect your perineum.

In addition to this influence on the lungs, tobacco also irritates the bladder because it is stored there with the urine until the next time you go to the toilet.

Bladder irritation can lead to chronic cystitis which are painful and this can lead to urinary incontinence.

Tobacco and incontinence: a vicious circle

The more weakened the perineum, the more the risks of urinary incontinence increase. And incontinence itself makes the situation worse by putting additional pressure on already weakened muscles.

A real vicious circle then sets in: chronic cough → urinary leakage → efforts to hold back → increased pressure on the perineum 😱

Without forgetting that tobacco directly irritates the bladder, promoting urge incontinence problems (pressing urges).

woman who suffers from emergency incontinence

Fertility and menopause also impacted

Beyond urinary problems, tobacco also harms female fertility by disrupting hormonal production. Smokers therefore have more difficulty conceiving.

There menopause is also advanced by 1 to 2 years in women who have smoked for a long time. THE estrogen deficiency then leads to an acceleration of bone degradation (osteoporosis).

menopausal woman with symptoms

The solution: quit smoking

For preserve your perineum and intimate health, there is no other choice than to quit smoking permanently. Thanks to better vascularization and oxygenation, the muscles will then be able to strengthen themselves.

There perineal rehabilitation (Kegel exercises, postnatal perineal rehabilitation, etc.) will allow to accelerate this muscle recovery process.

I take care of my perineum

Beyond exercises to strengthen the perineum, it is also crucial to adopt a healthy lifestyle to preserve your overall health. Stopping smoking is an important step in this process, not only for the health of the perineum, but also for the general well-being.

For example, the HEYME mutual offers a smoking cessation package to support those who wish stop smoking, an initiative which is also part of a global approach to health and well-being.

Pelvic Floor and Intimate Health FAQ

What is the pelvic floor and what does it do?

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and tissues that closes off the bottom of the pelvis, between the pubic bone and the tailbone. It supports the pelvic organs (bladder, womb, rectum), helps you control your bladder and bowel, and plays a role in sex. Like any muscle, it can weaken (pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, repeated strain) or, on the contrary, become too tight.

How can you strengthen your pelvic floor?

To strengthen your pelvic floor, you need to voluntarily contract the pelvic muscles (as if trying to hold in gas or the urge to urinate) only when you exhale. Do progressive exercises lying on your back or on all fours, making sure not to hold your breath or tense your buttocks. You can combine these contraction exercises with a connected biofeedback device used at home, such as Emy Trainer. This device, inserted into the vagina, tracks your muscle contractions in real time and lets you do fun exercises on your smartphone while measuring your progress.

How can you tell if you have a weakened pelvic floor?

A weakened pelvic floor is mainly recognized by urinary leaks or involuntary gas during an effort such as laughing, coughing, or jumping. It can also cause a feeling of heaviness or pressure in the lower abdomen, as well as reduced sensation or discomfort and pain during sex. These topics are common in consultations: there is no need to feel embarrassed about bringing them up. Only a manual assessment by a midwife or physiotherapist will make it possible to accurately assess the tone of your muscles and confirm the need for rehabilitation.

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