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One in six women don’t know where their pelvic floor muscle is, according to research.

Of the 1,000 women surveyed, nearly a quarter didn’t know the purpose of the pelvic floor muscle at all - with some even thinking it was in the inner thigh.

Nearly half of women were unaware that the is uterus' main role is to develop and grow babies, with more than a third wrongly believing it is there to link the vagina to the womb.

One in 10 women were also unsure what their vulva was.

The Only Way is Essex star Ferne McCann, who has partnered with Always Discreet, which commissioned the study, said: “Women are conscious of their health, but can be unclear about what vital parts of the body are actually there for - and how this affects them.

“Having experienced bladder leaks myself, I know how it can impact your life.

"At times, I was worried to leave the house and I avoided any kind of cardio exercise for so long.

"Understanding what’s going on in your own body is so important to improving your health and happiness.

“We need to put more of a spotlight on women’s health, we shouldn’t be embarrassed about these topics.

"Many women claim they know that exercising their pelvic floor muscles can prevent and improve leaks - but they still don’t prioritise these in their daily routine.

“Squeezing these muscles for a few minutes a day can make a big difference for many women.

"It’s definitely improved things for me and I’ve now got the confidence to get back on the treadmill.”

The study also found more than one in 10 women didn’t know that a weak pelvic floor is linked to bladder leakage.

But while weekly exercise, ’me time’ and a daily skincare routine are among the things women make sure they do regularly, only eight per cent are doing their pelvic floor exercises once a day.

And more than a third are not doing them at all to reduce their chances of being affected.

When asked what they do in order to strengthen their pelvic floor muscle, 44 per cent of women say they have attempted pelvic floor exercises, with three quarters believing it’s possible to prevent or decrease bladder leakage through exercises.

Of those who do their pelvic floor exercises regularly, the most likely locations they’ll take place are whilst watching TV on the sofa and in bed - and one in 10 will even do them on the bus.

More than half of the women polled, via OnePoll, also thought that being fit and exercising regularly means you're less likely to suffer with bladder leaks.

Always Discreet has enlisted the help of gynaecologist, Dr Anita Mitra - AKA The Gynae Geek - to encourage women to make pelvic floor exercises part of their daily routine, and to seek advice from a healthcare professional if they experience leaks.

She said: “Bladder leaks are common in women of all ages, it doesn't mean they should accept it as normal, and many do not realise that there are often simple things that can be done to help their situation.

“Talking to a GP or nurse is the first step, even if just to put your mind at ease.

"They will be able to talk you through a treatment plan which doesn't necessarily mean medication or surgery, and many can improve their symptoms with regular pelvic floor exercises alone.”

The results come after a previous study by Always Discreet also found that many women are unclear about how to take care of their pelvic floor, despite two thirds saying they have experienced bladder leaks at some stage.

This includes 64 per cent of 18-to 24-year-olds.

To make it easier for women to get professional help, Always Discreet is donating to Bladder Health UK to fund a confidential advice line, which can be reached on 0800 4334 600.