Pelvic Floor Health After 50: Stop Bladder Leaks & Improve Sexual Wellness | MaryEllen Reider

What I Discussed With Mary Ellen Reider - Why bladder leakage is common but should not be treated as an inevitable part of aging. - What the pelvic floor is and why everyone has one. - How childbirth, menopause, aging, weight, and other factors can affect pelvic floor strength. - The connection between pelvic floor muscles, bladder control, sexual sensation, and orgasm. - Why pelvic floor relaxation is just as important as strengthening. - How the Yarlap device works and who may benefit from it. - Why it is never too late to start caring for your pelvic floor.

Chapters 00:00 Sponsor: OhMiBod + Introduction to Mary Ellen Reider 01:40 What Is the Pelvic Floor and Why Does It Matter? 03:40 Why Bladder Leakage Is Common But Not Normal 05:46 How Pelvic Floor Weakness Affects Your Body 07:49 Introducing Yarlap: Pelvic Floor Training and Sexual Wellness 10:17 Why Pelvic Floor Exercises Are Difficult to Do Correctly 11:11 How Pelvic Floor Training Works Over Time 12:06 How Long Does It Take to See Results? 12:52 What Causes Urinary Incontinence? 14:12 How Bladder Leaks Affect Confidence, Dating and Intimacy 16:13 The Connection Between Pelvic Floor Strength and Orgasms 17:40 Female Sexual Wellness and Understanding the Body 19:51 Why Pelvic Floor Relaxation Matters Too 22:10 Understanding Pelvic Floor Tone: Too Tight vs Too Weak 25:00 Talking to Your Doctor About Pelvic Floor Health 26:46 It’s Never Too Late to Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor 28:21 Closing Thoughts: Removing Shame Around Women’s Health 28:57 Visit Sex Advice for Seniors

Shownotes Bladder leakage is common, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept it as an unavoidable part of aging. In this episode of Sex Advice for Seniors, I speak with MaryEllen Reider, co-director of Yarlap, about pelvic floor health, urinary incontinence, sexual confidence, and what happens when those important muscles become weak or overly tight. We talk about what the pelvic floor actually is, why both women and men have one, and how it supports the bladder, uterus, spine, and other parts of the body. Mary Ellen explains why leakage when you laugh, sneeze, exercise, or cough should not simply be dismissed as “one of those things” that happens after childbirth or menopause. We also explore the connection between the pelvic floor and sexual pleasure, including why some women experience weaker orgasms or reduced sensation as their pelvic floor changes. And importantly, we discuss why relaxation matters just as much as contraction when it comes to pelvic floor function and intimacy. MaryEllen explains how the Yarlap device is designed to support pelvic floor training, why Kegel exercises are not necessarily suitable for everyone, and why it’s important to understand whether your pelvic floor is weak, tight, or both. Most importantly, this episode is about replacing embarrassment with information. Whether you’re dealing with bladder leakage, painful sex, reduced sexual sensation, or simply want to take better care of your body, it is never too late to start paying attention to your pelvic floor.

Key Takeaways - Urinary incontinence is common, but it is not an inevitable part of aging. - Everyone has a pelvic floor, and it supports both physical and sexual health. - A weak pelvic floor may affect bladder control, posture, back pain, knee pain, and orgasmic sensation. - A pelvic floor that is too tight may also cause pain and discomfort. - Strengthening and relaxation are both essential for healthy pelvic floor function. - Pelvic floor health can affect confidence, dating, intimacy, and sexual pleasure. - It is never too late to ask a doctor about your pelvic floor.

About MaryEllen Reider MaryEllen Reider is the co-director of Yarlap®, the wellness device to treat urinary incontinence and improve feminine performance and experience through muscle control. MaryEllen spends a lot of time researching and finding out what’s new in the pelvic floor world and the social media realm.

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