182- Why Kegels During Allergy Season Might Be Making Your Leaking Worse

182- Why Kegels During Allergy Season Might Be Making Your Leaking Worse

From Pelvic Floor, Core & More | Healing Beyond Kegels: Core Rehab, Prenatal Fitness, Birth Prep, Postpartum Recovery, Nervous System Regulation, and Holistic Self-Care for Moms by Dr. Desiree Cassell | Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist, Women’s Health Specialist, Strong and Fit Momma

April 7, 2026 · 25 min · Season 3 · Episode 186

About this episode

This episode discusses how allergy season can worsen pelvic floor symptoms and why kegels may not be the best solution during this time.

If your leaking gets worse during allergy season… and your first instinct is to do more kegels — this episode might surprise you. Because while kegels can be helpful in some cases, they’re not always the solution — especially when your body is dealing with the repeated stress of coughing, sneezing, and increased pressure. In this episode, Dr. Des explains how everyday things like allergies can impact your pelvic floor, why symptoms may flare up this time of year, and what your body actually needs to handle these changes more effectively. If you’ve noticed more leaking, pressure, or discomfort with coughing or sneezing, this episode will help you understand what’s happening — and how to support your body without making symptoms worse. In This Episode, We Explore: How coughing and sneezing affect pelvic floor pressure Why symptoms may worsen during allergy season When kegels can actually increase tension or dysfunction The importance of coordination over constant contraction Simple ways to better support your pelvic floor during flare-ups Why This Matters Your pelvic floor doesn’t just need to be strong — it needs to be responsive. When your body is under increased demand, like…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Desiree Cassell

Topics covered

  • pelvic floor health
  • allergy season
  • kegels
  • leaking
  • coughing and sneezing
  • pressure management
  • body coordination

Keywords

  • pelvic floor
  • kegels
  • allergies
  • leaking
  • coughing
  • sneezing
  • pressure
  • coordination
  • symptoms
  • support

More episodes of Pelvic Floor, Core & More | Healing Beyond Kegels: Core Rehab, Prenatal Fitness, Birth Prep, Postpartum Recovery, Nervous System Regulation, and Holistic Self-Care for Moms

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Pelvic Floor, Core & More | Healing Beyond Kegels: Core Rehab, Prenatal Fitness, Birth Prep, Postpartum Recovery, Nervous System Regulation, and Holistic Self-Care for Moms podcast page.