title: Can stronger pelvic muscle floor improve sexual function?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to evaluate the association between pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength and sexual functioning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review of consecutive all women who were referred with a primary complaint of sexual dysfunction. Women underwent standardized clinical evaluation including pelvic muscle strength which was ranked from 0 (weak) to 2 (strong). The duration of pelvic muscle contraction was also recorded in seconds. Sexual function was evaluated by using a validated questionnaire, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred seventy-six women with a mean age of 37 +/- 11 years were included. Women with strong or moderate PFM scored significantly higher on the FSFI orgasmic and arousal domains than women with weak PFM (5.4 +/- 0.8 vs. 2.8 +/- 0.8, and 3.9 +/- 0.5 vs. 1.7 +/- 0.24, respectively; P < 0.001). The duration of PFM contraction was correlated with FSFI orgasmic domain and sexual arousal (r = 0.26, P < 0.001; r = 0.32, P < 0.0001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that both the orgasm and arousal function are related to better PFM function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. lowensteinmd@gmail.com
authors.forename: Lior
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lowenstein
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gruenwald
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gartman
authors.forename: Yoram
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Vardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053580:Muscle Strength; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019529:Sexuality / Q000502:physiology*