Sex efficiency through exercises : special physical culture for women / by Th. H. van de Velde ; [photos, by E. Steinemann].
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What of menstrual disturbances: are they contra- indications for our exercises ? If there are too great losses pelvic exercises should not be undertaken. And any irregular hemorrhages should be promptly dealt with by special examina- tion, observation and treatment—gynecologists should never weary of impressing this on their patients. Another intimately important matter is the possible connection between pelvic exercises and miscarriages. The gymnastic instructress of any experience will often encounter this problem in various forms. Some women have an excessive dread—almost a psycho-neurotic complex—that any form of active exercise may make them miscarry. The instructress may, with full confidence and authority, assure such women that the gentle rhythmic movements of the pelvic exercises described in these pages are quite free from dangers (with one exception, presently to be noted) in all normal cases. But if the uterus has already shown a constitutional tendency to premature expulsion of its contents, the greatest quiet and care are necessary as soon as pregnancy has definitely been diagnosed, and all exercises should be omitted. And even in normal cases, where there have been no previous miscarriages or premature expulsions, any extra exertion should be avoided: for instance, Exercise No. ig (Film 12, Figs. 12 and 13), the rhythmic movement from suspension to flexion and vice versa, should not be attempted if even one menstrual period has been missed. Moreover, after two menstrual periods have been missed— that is, so far as we can judge, from the beginning of the third month—the pelvic exercises hitherto recommended should be superseded by those appropriate to pregnancy, as described in the following chapter. The gymnastic instructress may be exposed to worry and inconvenience by the actions of women who attend her classes with the sole intention of terminating an early pregnancy by the greatest possible physical efforts and strains. They will not, therefore, concentrate on pelvic exercises for this purpose, but prefer "physical jerks/' jumping and leaping, which are also highly popular for