What is women’s health / pelvic floor physical therapy?
Women’s health/pelvic floor physical therapists like us specialize in treating the “lady parts.”
Through our experience, we found that many women suffer alone with their issues. We find this to be the case either because they are too embarrassed to seek help, think their condition is normal, or because they don’t know where to find help. Also, most doctors don’t know that we exist, let alone the type of work that we do. Therefore, most women are not referred to physical therapists specializing in this field so patients are unable to get the help that they need.
Many of our patients have been to numerous doctors before finding us. They have been prescribed medications, received multiple injections, or underwent surgery to try to find a solution without any resolution. Thankfully, there has been more awareness on women’s health physical therapy over the recent years, but not enough!
Is a women’s health physical therapist right for me?
Have you expressed that you have urinary leakage and your doctor prescribed you medication with horrible side effects or maybe even pushed you towards surgery?
Do you suffer from chronic constipation and your doctor told you to just take laxatives?
Have you complained that you have pain with sex and your doctor told you to just use more lube and do more foreplay?
Did you just give birth and are experiencing incontinence, pain, and other issues and your doctor told you that’s now your new normal?
What conditions do you treat?
- urinary urgency/frequency (read more about bladder habits)
- urinary incontinence (i.e. stress urinary incontinence)
- bowel dysfunction (i.e. constipation)
- pelvic organ prolapse
- painful sex (dyspareunia)
- painful bladder (interstitial cystitis)
- tailbone pain (coccydynia)
- pelvic pain
- pregnant women
- post-partum women
- ..and more!
What is a typical session like?
The initial evaluation starts with the physical therapists asking you questions about your medical and sexual history. Then, a thorough examination of your body will follow. With permission, an internal vaginal or rectal exam may be performed as needed. I know internal exams can be scary so if you’re not ready for that yet, it’s okay. There is still plenty of things that can be done without an internal exam. The goal is to make you feel as comfortable as possible so that best outcome can be achieved. After the examination is over, the physical therapist will teach you corrective exercises, modify faulty behaviors, and assign homework. Doing your homework is key to getting better!