Dear Dr. SerVaas,

You have mentioned "Kegel exercises" in your magazine. Will you please tell me how these are done? Thank you.

Mrs. K. Sannes
North Augusta, South Carolina

Kegel exercises help strengthen pelvic muscles to prevent urinary leakage, As it may take several weeks to notice an improvement, it is important to continue doing these exercises.

To perform Kegel exercises:

1. Empty your bladder.

2. Tighten your urinary flow muscles as if you wanted to stop urine flow and hold for a count of ten.

3. Relax the muscles completely for a count of ten,

4. Perform ten exercises, three to four times a day. Each week, gradually increase the number of contractions and relaxations, and the length of time the contractions are held.

First developed to help women after childbirth, a regular regimen of Kegel exercises may also help men who experience urinary incontinence after prostate surgery. Recent evidence suggests that the exercises are useful in treating erectile dysfunction, too,