What is the perineum?

What is the perineum? The perineum is a surface region of the body which stretches from the pubic arch to the coccyx. It's actually kind of like a hammock, in that it supports our organs, including the rectum and bladder, as well as the vagina and uterus for women. It's also useful at absorbing impact. When it's fully functional, the perineum tenses and relaxes like any muscle. The problem is it tends to get weaker and droop downwards as we get older, or in other specific cases, like after a pregnancy, or if a person has chronic constipation. There are also risk factors to bear in mind, including being overweight, having allergies or asthma, and regularly carrying heavy loads. How can I know if my perineum is losing its tone? Well I’m in good shape, so I shouldn’t have to worry about my perineum, should I? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: Who is Rosalia? What is deepfake democracy? What is environmental racism? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. In partnership with upday UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices