Orgasm
"Orgasm is the sudden discharge of accumulated sexual tension resulting in rhythmic muscular contractions in the pelvic region that produce intensely pleasurable sensations followed by rapid relaxation. Orgasm is also in part a psychological experience of pleasure and abandon, when the mind is focused solely on the personal experience. It is sometimes called climaxing or coming.
[...] Orgasms vary from person to person and for each individual at different times. Sometimes orgasm is an explosive, amazing rush of sensations, while others are milder, subtler, and less intense. The differences in intensity of orgasms can be attributed to physical factors, such as fatigue and length of time since last orgasm, as well as to a wide range of psychosocial factors, including mood, relation to partner, activity, expectations, and feelings about the experience.
Orgasm — A Total Body Response
There are several physiological components of orgasm. First, orgasm is a total body response, not just a pelvic event. Brain wave patterns have shown distinct changes during orgasm, and muscles in many different areas of the body contract during this phase of sexual response. Some people experience the involuntary contraction of facial muscles resulting in what looks like a grimace or an expression of discomfort or displeasure, but it is actually an indication of high sexual arousal.
The most characteristic physical feature of orgasm is the sensation produced by the simultaneous rhythmic contractions of the pubococcygeus muscle (pc muscle). Along with contractions of the anal sphincter, rectum and perineum, the uterus and outer third of the vagina, this constitutes the reflex of orgasm.
The first few contractions are intense and close together, occurring at about 0.8-second intervals. As orgasm continues, the contractions diminish in intensity and duration and occur at less frequent intervals."
Source : Sinclair Intimacy Institute
Interest of contracting vaginal muscles
"Women of all ages suffer from weakened and atrophied pelvic floor muscles (PFM). In premenopausal women, PFM are typically weakened by childbirth, and for some, by years of aerobic exercise. Recent findings in sports medicine suggest that the incidence of urinary incontinence increases in women who regularly jog, run, or perform activities involving up-and-down jumping. In perimenopausal women, PFM overstretching during childbirth is combined with progressive decline in tissue, vascular, and muscular support resulting from the age-related decline in estrogen and anabolic steroid levels (which promote muscle growth and are responsible for 60% of ovarian sex-hormone production). In postmenopausal women, these effects are exacerbated by atrophy of prolonged disuse and lack of PFM resistance exercise for 50 years or more. This article proposes that women suffer from PFM atrophy because of lack of use or isotonic exercise over their lifetime. The PFM are "forgotten muscles" that atrophy over time from lack of adequate use, as was originally suggested by Kegel.
Causes
Pelvic floor muscles are responsible for supporting the entire female pelvic structures, including the bladder, uterus, and rectum. Pelvic floor muscle atrophy is a natural result of aging and disuse due to lack of resistance exercise of these skeletal muscles, combined with the natural decline in estrogen and in the muscle-building and muscle-maintaining anabolic steroid testosterone. Childbirth, gravity, and added weight/obesity play a part in PFM loss of tone and strength over time.
In addition, the symptoms of pelvic fullness and pressure, prolapse, decreased genital blood flow and neurosensitivity with diminished sexual arousal, weakened orgasm, and diminished sexual response all contribute to diminished sexual desire. The underlying problem is that this vital muscle group simply is not exercised regularly throughout a woman's lifetime. If women were able to effectively exercise their PFM, they could avoid many sexual and other medical conditions that have significant social, relationship, and psychological consequences.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms and signs of PFM atrophy may include fatigue, back or lower abdominal pain, pelvic pressure, full bladder, stress incontinence, nervousness, and sexual dysfunction. Low-back pain and lower abdominal pain after prolonged standing or other physical activity is the result of traction on the uterosacral ligaments and round ligaments, respectively. Deep-penetration dyspareunia is caused by direct traumatic contact between the penis and prolapsed cervix. Stress urinary incontinence results from weak resting tone of the PFM and weak reaction strength of the bladder and PFM to jolting, movement, or coughing. Complaints of fatigue, back or lower abdominal pain, pelvic pressure, and fullness may also be due to the uterus prolapsing into the weakened, stretched vagina in the upright posture, or being pushed further into the vagina by weight, exercise, or lifting. In addition, nervousness or irritability can occur because of chronic urinary incontinence.
Sexual dysfunction is a common symptom of PFM that is caused by decreased PFM strength and tone, reducing the nerve and blood supply to the overlying vulva and clitoris. This in turn decreases access to arousal during the psychological and physical stimulation of foreplay, and "short-circuits" the conditioned response of arousal and orgasm. Decreased neurosensitivity due to diminished oxygen supply and circulation attenuates both arousal and orgasm. Decreased PFM blood flow impairs clitoral and vaginal engorgement of female erectile tissues, further sabotaging arousal. In addition, dyspareunia contributes to the loss of desire, which is so frequently associated with the postpartum period and the perimenopausal and postmenopausal years. Finally, overstretching and weak PFM tone means less contact sensation during coitus for both partners.
Kegel Exercises
The oldest form of PFM exercise are the Kegel exercises, which are simple, isometric contractions/relaxations of the PFM. However, Kegel himself noted that "physiologic therapy of genital muscle relaxation is divided into two phases or steps: (1) specific muscle education, and (2) resistive exercises of the pubococcygeus and its visceral extensions." The specifics of focusing on muscle identification and education are paramount, as some patients will be unable to contract their PFM voluntarily. Furthermore, women who cannot identify their PFM may recruit their abdominal, gluteal or quadriceps muscles instead, deriving no benefit. Establishing awareness of the function of the PFM is essential for clinical results.
Kegel described the following characteristics in patients who used a resistance exerciser correctly and regularly:
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Awareness of the pubococcygeus muscle function
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Appreciation of muscular contractions in areas where none could be demonstrated previously, especially in the anterior and lateral quadrants of the vaginal wall
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Progressive strengthening of contractions of the PFM
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Improvement of tone and texture in all of the pelvic floor musculofascial tissues of the outlet
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Increased bulk of the PFM and their visceral
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Changes in the position of the perineum, introitus, urethra, bladder neck, and uterus relative to an "ideal line" between the os pubis and coccyx
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Tightening and lengthening of the vaginal canal
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Improved tone and firmness in flaccid vaginal walls.
In addition, it is likely that PFM strengthened by resistance exercise will increase the neurologic feedback of orgasm. Physically stronger PFM can produce higher-amplitude contractions and more contractions per orgasm (ie, 7 to 12 contractions at 8- to 10-sec intervals). Furthermore, as Kegel noted, "With physiologic therapy, complete relief from simple stress incontinence has been consistently obtained in a series of over 700 cases of this type." There is conclusive evidence that muscle education and repetitive, coordinated resistance exercise can prevent or treat urinary stress incontinence and improve sexual response.
A recently developed vaginal resistance exerciser, the GyneFlex, now can also assist women in performing isotonic exercises to strengthen their PFM.
Risks and Side Effects
There are no known risks associated with exercising the PFM. "
CONCLUSION
Isotonic exercise should begin as early as possible to optimize sexual function.
Source: D.S. Stein, MD, FACOG; S. B. Sloan, CSW