Expert reveals how university students could be damaging their intimate health

After a long hot summer, there’s a record number of young Brits set to start university over the next few weeks.

However, while uni starters might be some of the brightest young minds with a wealth of knowledge on how to care for their physical and mental health while away from home, one area of the body they lack knowledge of is the pelvic floor – according to a recent study.

Last year, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) called for secondary school children to be taught about the pelvic floor to increase awareness, as a preventative measure against pelvic floor dysfunction later in life.

But with no further news about its introduction to the curriculum alongside sex education, it looks like young women will still be left in the dark.

To help educate students before it’s too late, Intimate Health Expert and Founder of Kegel8 Stephanie Taylor reveals university’s biggest dangers to pelvic floor health…

Drug Use

While students are encouraged to have new experiences when moving away from home, one unhealthy extra-curricular activity that two in five students have admitted to is taking recreational drugs.

A study revealed cannabis as the most frequently used, followed by ketamine and cocaine.

But in the search for a quick high, you could be damaging your pelvic floor and bladder.

Researchers have found that people who take cocaine are four times more likely to develop bladder issues or – in the worst case – bladder cancer.

Meanwhile, ‘ketamine bladder syndrome’ refers to when users develop symptoms, such as urge incontinence, increased urinary frequency and pelvic pain.

So, not only could recreational drug use affect your studies and overall life, but these pelvic floor issues could also result in a decline in sexual sensation, and increased chances of intimate health issues later in life, during pregnancy or menopause.

Don’t feel peer pressured into taking anything and if you’re struggling, seek help from a student rep, student support services or a medical professional.

Unsafe sex

A survey revealed that two-thirds of students have unprotected sex, with fifteen percent admitting to doing it with more than one partner.

One of the most common issues people experience following unprotected sex is the transmission of STIs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis.

Contracting an STI can be embarrassing, but the effects they can have on your pelvic floor, if left untreated, can be bad.

STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhoea are the most common cause of pelvic inflammatory disease – an infection of the woman’s reproductive organs, which causes pelvic pain, irregular periods, bad-smelling discharge and, in the worst cases, problems with fertility.

Plus, not using condoms during penetrative sex can change the vagina’s pH level and encourage bacteria to grow, which can cause bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections.

To avoid these issues occurring, ensure you regularly use condoms when engaging in penetrative sex. And, if you do suspect you might have an STI, visit your GP or a walk-in clinic, or order a self-test kit online, to get tested.

The earlier the diagnosis, the sooner you can start treatment, alert sexual partners and get rid of it to avoid further complications.

Study pressures

Starting university can be fun, but for some, leaving home for the first time can be extremely nerve-wracking.

A survey by the Office of National Statistics found that 37 percent of first-year students showed moderate to severe symptoms of depression, and 39 percent had some form of anxiety after their first term due to study pressures.
While these mental health issues can impact your ability to achieve results, socialise and live day-to-day away from home, stress can exacerbate pelvic floor issues.

That’s because when we experience stress, we hold our pelvic floor muscles tightly, and to maintain the muscles down there, they must be equally tightened and relaxed. If you constantly clench the muscles, they will weaken, resulting in pelvic floor dysfunction with symptoms like pelvic pain, problems going to the toilet, sexual dysfunction and painful intercourse.

Try and ease the pressure by taking some time out for yourself, introducing gentle exercise and breathing techniques and talking to a friend or tutor.

And if you’re experiencing weak pelvic floor muscles because of stress, do your kegel exercises daily and consider introducing a pelvic floor toner for extra support.