The winter holidays are a special time of year for many. They are filled with family get-togethers, delicious treats, and heart-warming traditions. For as sweet and jolly as this time of year can be, it can also be a sneaky pelvic floor saboteur! Watch out for the following things around the holidays so you can be prepared to keep your pelvic floor happy...

Vaginal flatulence, queefing, or farting from your vagina. These are all the same thing and can take you by surprise when you're moving through a yoga class. So what is vaginal flatulence? Is it actually gas like what passes through your rectum? Short answer: vaginal flatulence is when air that is trapped in the vagina is released. It is not created by digestion but rather by air that gets trapped as we move through space.

Fecal incontinence is often considered a taboo topic, even though it is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. This topic can be a source of embarrassment, social isolation, and decreased quality of life. But fear not. For in this blog, we are going to explore the concept of balloon training for fecal incontinence and sprinkle in a little humor, because sometimes laughter really is the best medicine.

How we breathe is primarily controlled by the diaphragm, along with other accessory muscles of respiration. You have probably heard of the diaphragm before. It's the muscle that has something to do with how you breathe, right? While the diaphragm is a critical part of our lives for respiratory function, it is also a critical part of our pelvic health too!

As a pelvic floor physical therapist, I have seen and treated a number of women transitioning into menopause- whether they are in their early stages of perimenopause (this can range from a couple years to ten years) or have officially gone 12 months without a period (the technical definition for entering menopause). Going through menopause can be an extremely transformational time that I find most women are not well educated on.

When it comes to disordered eating and body image, the experience is physical as well as emotional. In treatment, one explores and works to change one’s relationship with food, self, others and beyond. Treatments often utilize a team approach and can include a psychologist, social worker, dietitian or nutritionist, and medical doctors. What may not be known, however, is the relationship between eating disorders and pelvic floor dysfunction and how a pelvic floor physical therapist can help.

In the womens’ health and pelvic health worlds, there is a growing recognition of the importance of holistic approaches to address various issues, from pelvic pain and congestion to the challenges of peri/menopause and postpartum recovery. One of my favorite tools to implement for these concerns is hypopressives ("hypos" for short) and specifically the Low Pressure Fitness (LPF) movement system.

September is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) awareness month. PCOS is a complex, multi-systemic condition that affects as many as 10% of women of reproductive age. PCOS is a significant endocrine, metabolic, gynecologic condition that goes undiagnosed ~50% of the time, therefore goes untreated about 50% of the time. Some common signs and symptoms include missed or irregular periods, excess bodily hair, acne, weight gain, infertility and pelvic pain.

More than likely, you have either heard of, or have seen, a Squatty Potty. So, what's the big deal?!‍ The John, the Can, the Loo, and the Throne all conjure images of our modern-day toilet. Before these toilets were a norm in society, many people relied on other ways of relieving themselves. Most of those ways included a squatting position over a dug hole, a chamber pot, or squat toilet (porcelain hole in the floor) as we commonly see in overseas countries.

Congratulations! You’re embarking on the incredible journey of pregnancy, complete with its joys and challenges. As your due date approaches, the thrill of impending motherhood mingles with the realization that your little one will soon need to make their grand entrance into the world.This thought can be quite overwhelming, but fear not! I am here to share five tips to help you and your pelvis feel fully prepared and empowered for labor and delivery.