We've all heard horror stories about the damage that high heels can do to your feet, but for once, here's some news to put a positive spin on every woman's favorite pair of pumps: Wearing high-heeled shoes can improve your health and your sex life, according to Italian urologist, Dr. Maria Cerutto, a heel-lover herself.

We were kind of wondering why a urologist would be weighing in on foot care, but her research backs up her claims: In her study of 66 women who regularly wore shoes with two-inch heels, she found that balancing on heels helped tone and strengthen women's pelvic muscles, which can increase sexual satisfaction and provide support to the bladder, bowels, and uterus.

Typically, the pelvic muscles become weaker with age and after childbirth. Though many women try to tone the muscles through exercise, Dr. Cerutto claims that her findings could let women cut out the Keigels and put on some new strappy sandals instead.

"Women often have difficulty in carrying out the right exercises for the pelvic zone and wearing heels could be the solution," she told BBC News.

Don't read too much into this story – six-inch stilettos are never good news for your feet, no matter how great they look. But if you're a woman who likes to wear a modest heel from time to time, this could be just the excuse to hit Nine West for a few hours. It is for your heath, after all.